Motorsport UK, the governing body of motorsport in the UK, has gone further than the decisions taken yesterday by the FIA World Council and excluded all Russian and Belarusian licensed drivers from competition on its territory in response to the act of war. and aggression conducted in Ukraine by Russia and Belarus. The FIA has decided to continue to allow Russian and Belarusian drivers to race in international competitions under the FIA flag and not representing their nations.
Motorsport UK's decision applies to teams and drivers with sporting licenses from those countries, and Nikita Mazepin's presence at the British Formula 1 GP in July this year is prohibited from the start.
The statement from this body can be read that “the recognition of licenses issued by the Russian Automobile Federation and the Belarusian Automobile Federation is suspended in the United Kingdom. As a consequence, no team with a Russian/Belarusian license is approved to participate in motor racing in the UK; no competitors and stewards with a Russian/Belarusian license are approved to participate in UK motorsport events; no Russian/Belarusian national symbols, colours, flags (on suit, equipment and car) to be displayed at Motorsport UK events will be permitted.
David Richards, President of Motorsport UK said: “It is our duty to use whatever influence and pressure we may have to put an end to this totally unwarranted invasion of Ukraine. We would like to encourage the motorsport community and our colleagues around the world to fully adhere to the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee and to do everything we can to end this war. Motorsport UK stands with Leonid Kostyuchenko, the President of the FAU [Ukrainian Federation], the Ukrainian motoring community and the Ukrainian people and calls for the violence to end with a peaceful resolution.”
