On Monday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued a statement recommending that major sports federations ban Russian athletes from participating in international events.
As the FIA is a federation recognized by the IOC, the governing body of motorsports is holding an emergency meeting of its World Motorsports Council on Tuesday to decide what response it should give to the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine and whether it will follow the line of the entity rector
One possibility is that Russian drivers will be banned from FIA competitions. This move could force Nikita Mazepin out of F1, and risks Daniil Kvyat, who is entered in the WEC this season, also being excluded.
In his social networks, the former Toro Rosso expressed his hope for a peaceful solution to the events, and questioned the pressure from the sports authorities to take action.
“I hope for a peaceful solution to this situation in Ukraine, and that we can all live in peace. I want all parties to be able to find a solution by sitting down, and through respectful dialogue. It horrifies me to see two brother peoples in a conflict,” he said. .
“I don’t want military actions and wars to influence the future of humanity. I want my daughter and all children to enjoy this beautiful world,” Kvyat continued. “I would also like to stress and address all sports federations in the world, including the IOC, that sport must remain outside of politics, and that preventing Russian athletes and teams from participating in world competitions is an unfair solution, and It goes against what sport teaches us in principle: unity and peace”.
“Who but us, the athletes, will help unite the nations in the coming times,” he concluded.
The FIA’s move to ban Russian drivers and teams from competing in FIA-sanctioned races would follow moves by other major sports federations. On Monday, FIFA announced that all Russian clubs and national teams had been banned from competitions following the IOC’s recommendation.
Even before the FIA called their meeting, Mazepin ‘s future in F1 with Haas had been in doubt after his father’s company, Uralkali , last week withdrew its brand from the American-owned team’s cars.
Haas is expected to make a decision in the coming days on his plans for the season ahead before heading into the second day of pre-season training in Bahrain. For his part, Mazepin wrote on Twitter last week that he had “no control over much of what is said and done”, so we will have to wait to know the resolution.
