New rules for some Russian drivers

The FIA has implemented new rules around drivers with Russian or Belarusian nationality. A recently released document states that on 7 December, the FIA decided to give drivers with dual nationality new opportunities to enter competitions.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the FIA implemented a whole series of rules in protest against the attack. Every FIA-run event scheduled in Russia was cancelled, Russian teams were banned from participating in international competitions, and it was forbidden to display the Russian flag and/or play the Russian national anthem at official races.

Special arrangements were made for drivers. Drivers from Russia and Belarus were still allowed to participate in international competitions, but were no longer allowed to race under the flag of their home country (something Russian drivers had been banned from doing since 2021 anyway). Instead, the drivers would be known as "neutral participants". Drivers also had to promise not to express support for Russia in the war.

Special rules around dual nationality

Although all of these rules remain intact, an additional nuance has now been added to the rules surrounding drivers. Drivers with dual citizenship are allowed to compete for the other country whose citizenship they hold. That possibility was already offered from the moment the previous rules were introduced, but what is new now is that these drivers with dual citizenship no longer have to explicitly distance themselves from Russia's actions in the war. Last season, drivers with dual citizenship still had to sign a statement promising not to express support for Russia.