Ukraine calls on FIA to ban Russian drivers after invasion

The Ukrainian automobile federation has urged the changes from motorsport’s governing body in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which was supported by Belarus, last week. 

Western countries have responded by enforcing major sanctions on Russia, while Russian President Vladimir Putin has faced worldwide condemnation for ordering troops into its western neighbour on Thursday morning. 

The impact of the conflict has spilled over into the world of sport, with F1 announcing that this year’s Russian Grand Prix, scheduled to take place on September 25 in Sochi, has been cancelled. 

Meanwhile, Haas removed the logos and colour scheme of title sponsor Uralkali from its F1 car for the final day of last week’s pre-season test at Barcelona. 

Team principal Guenther Steiner said the future of Mazepin and Haas’ sponsorship deal with Uralkali is due to be resolved this week. The company is co-owned by Mazepin’s father Dmitry, a Russian billionaire with close ties to Putin. 

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem wrote to the Ukraine motorsport federation on Thursday offering his “full support and the support of the FIA”. 

In response, FAU president Leonid Kostyuchenko requested the FIA to: 

- Ban the use of state symbols of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus – the aggressor countries – during FIA-organised and FIA-sanctioned competitions

- To prohibit the holding of FIA-organised and FIA-sanctioned competitions in the territories of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus

- To prohibit the holding of RAF (Russian Automobile Federation)-organised and RAF-sanctioned competitions in the occupied territories of Ukraine

- To expel all the members of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus from the FIA

- To expel all the members representing the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus from FIA commissions

On Monday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials are banned from any organised international competitions. 

The IOC said its recommendations were made "in order to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants". 

The FIA has been fully recognised by the IOC since signing up to its charter in 2013. 

In a tweet last week, Mazepin wrote: “It’s a difficult time and I am not in control over a lot of what is being said and done. I'm choosing to focus on what I CAN control by working hard and doing my best for my Haas F1 Team.”