Formula 1 – “Unfair” to prevent the Russians from competing

Posted1 mars 2022, 19:16

Former Russian F1 driver Daniil Kvyat regrets the decision taken by many sports bodies to ban Russian athletes from international sport, following the military intervention in Ukraine.

AFP

“I would like (…) to emphasize and address all the sports federations in the world, including the IOC (note: the International Olympic Committee), and tell them that sport must remain outside of politics, and that ‘banning Russian athletes and teams from participating in world competitions is an unfair solution and goes once morest what sport teaches us in principle: unity and peace,’ denounced Kvyat, a Monegasque resident, in a message on his social networks.

“Who but us sportsmen will help bring nations together in the future,” continued the former Red Bull and AlphaTauri driver, now in endurance racing, who said he was “horrified to see two brotherly nations in conflict without, however, condemning the Russian invasion. On Monday, the IOC had recommended banning Russians and Belarusians from sports competitions, thus breaking with a long tradition of non-intervention in political or geopolitical debates.

FIFA and UEFA immediately reacted by excluding Russia from the World Cup, in which it was to play the play-offs once morest Poland on March 24, and Russian clubs from European competitions. Since then, other bodies such as the International Skating Union (ISU) and the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) have also decided to ban Russian athletes. For its part, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) was to meet on Tuesday to take a position.

The only Russian driver entered in F1 this season, the future of Nikita Mazepin is therefore uncertain due to the war in Ukraine, which also calls into question the partnership between his American team Haas and the Russian sponsor Uralkali. A “paying” driver who arrived in F1 last year, Nikita Mazepin (22) is the son of billionaire Dmitry Mazepin, non-executive director of Uralkali.

F1 announced last week the cancellation of the Russian Grand Prix, scheduled for September 25 in Sochi.

(AFP)