Russian and Belarusian drivers required to sign FIA agreement

While the FIA has decided that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to race, they will require those respective drivers to sign a form that the FIA put out today.

Yet another step by the FIA

Whereas several sports federations are taking harsh measures after Russia invaded Ukraine, the FIA did not take harsh measures. The Russian flag will not be displayed and the national anthem will not be heard, but Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to participate under a neutral flag, contrary to earlier decisions by UEFA and the International Paralympic Committee.

The athletes are not getting off too lightly, however, as the FIA issued a statement on Friday that athletes from Russia and Belarus will only be allowed to compete under a neutral flag if they sign a Driver Commitment. In this statement, the driver accepts different positions of the FIA whereby the motorsport federation still tries to show that it wants to take action against the invasion of Ukraine.

Consequences for Mazepin

For example, the driver in question must sign that he stands behind the "strong sign" that the FIA issues in which it supports Ukraine. Also, under no circumstances may the driver refer to Russia. This is not allowed in clothing, and not in words. Also the driver is not allowed to make a statement about the situation in Ukraine that goes against the statements of the FIA. The driver also signs that the FIA can take further measures should the situation in Ukraine develop further.

Whether this document will have any influence on Formula 1 remains to be seen. The only driver who could be considered for this is the Russian driver Nikita Mazepin, but Haas itself seems to be busy working to get him out of the team. Uralkali and the corresponding (Russian) livery were already removed from the car in Barcelona and there is a good chance that Pietro Fittipaldi will take Mazepin's place during the test in Bahrain.