Nikita Mazepin and Russian drivers learn their fate as FIA announces World Motorsport Council Decision

Nikita Mazepin and Russian drivers learn their fate as FIA announces World Motorsport Council Decision

Lewis Hamilton and Nikita Mazepin

FIA, the governing body of motorsport has today in an official statement have announced the further decisions that have been taken regarding the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

An official statement regarding the decisions is available on the various social media handles of the FIA. The urgent meeting of the WMSC was called by the FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem
Mohammed Ben Sulayem

To start the meeting Mohammed Ben Sulayem said “As you know, the FIA is watching the developments in Ukraine with sadness and shock and I hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to the present situation. We condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine and our thoughts are with all those suffering as a result of the events in Ukraine. I would like to stress that the FIA, together with our promoters, proactively acted on the matter last week and communicated accordingly on Formula1, Formula2, WTCR, and the International Drifting Club. An updated version of the updated version of the FIA calendars will be presented to the WMSC meeting in Bahrain for approval.”

Concrete decisions have been made in reponse to Russia’s invasion

A lot was discussed in the unprecedented meeting of the World Motor Sport Council and as a result of the deliberation, the following key decisions have been made.

Competitions organised on the territory of Russia and Belarus

The Russian Grand Prix
The Russian Grand Prix
  • No international/zone competitions to take place in Russia and Belarus until further notice.
  • No flag symbol or anthem of Russia/Belarus to be used in international/zone competitions until further notice.

Drivers, Competitors, Officials

Haas' Russian driver Nikita Mazepin
Haas’ Russian driver Nikita Mazepin
  • No Russian, Belarusian national teams to participate in international/zone competitions.
  • Russian/Belarusian drivers, individual competitors and officials to participate in international/zone competitions only in their neutral capacity and under the “FIA flag” , subject to specific commitment and adherence to FIA’s principle of peace and political neutrality until further notice.

FIA’s International Sporting Calander

Formula1 and FIA
Formula 1 and FIA
  • Upon proposal of the F1 Commercial Rights Holder, cancellation of the 2022 F1 Russian Grand Prix for reason of force majeure.

All the key takeaways of the meeting have been highlighted above and the biggest one for the Formula1 fans is that the Russian Grand Prix for the 2022 Formula1 season has been officially canceled and is now going to be replaced by some other venue.

Haas driver Nikita Mazepin
Haas driver Nikita Mazepin

Ever since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there were doubts regarding Nikita Mazepin’s future in Formula1 with some saying he should not be allowed to race, but with the FIA’s official statement, it seems Nikita Mazepin has got a lifeline and would be able to participate during the 2022 season in a neutral capacity.

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