The Ukrainian government has requested the FIA to reverse the relaxation of the rules for Russian and Belarusian drivers. The governing body announced last week that participants in motorsport events from these countries would be allowed to race under their own flag again. However, the Ukrainian Minister of Youth and Sports reportedly asked chairman Mohammed Ben Sulayem in a letter to undo this decision.
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Last week, the FIA announced the lifting of the ban on drivers from Russia and Belarus participating in international motorsport events under their own flag. This ban had been in effect since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. According to BBC Sport, the Ukrainian Minister of Youth and Sports sent a letter to FIA chairman Mohammed Ben Sulayem requesting the decision be reversed.
“The minister has sent a letter to the chairman of the FIA and the FIA World Motor Sport Council, requesting reconsideration of the decision regarding the above-mentioned lifting of sanctions,” said the statement from the Ukrainian auto federation. The FIA’s decision to lift the sanctions came as ‘a complete surprise’ to Ukraine.
“Although this decision is in line with the most recent decisions of the International Olympic Committee, it can have a counterproductive effect in global motorsport in practice,” the statement continues. “Primarily regarding ensuring the integrity of competitions.”
‘Ukrainian motorsport has suffered significant losses’
“As a result of the large-scale aggression by the Russian Federation, supported by Belarus, Ukrainian motorsport has suffered significant losses,” the statement further reads. “A large number of our motorsport participants have lost their lives during this war, and such circumstances simply cannot be ignored when making decisions of this nature.”
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