The Ukrainian government has formally requested that the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) reconsider its recent decision to lift sanctions against Russian and Belarusian drivers and teams. Following the rule change, competitors from these nations are no longer required to sign neutrality agreements to participate in official events under their national identities.
In an official letter to FIA leadership from Ukraine’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, the government argued that easing these restrictions undermines the integrity of international motorsport. The statement emphasized that the decision completely disregards the human cost of the ongoing conflict, noting that Ukrainian motorsport has suffered significant losses, including a large number of competitors who have been killed during the war. Restrictions had originally been put in place in February 2022 following the outbreak of the conflict.
While the FIA’s policy shift aligns with recent guidance from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), other international sports bodies have maintained stricter stances. For example, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) has kept all bans on Russian and Belarusian participants fully intact, and World Athletics similarly rejected IOC recommendations to ease restrictions on Belarusian athletes.
Despite easing participation requirements for drivers, the FIA stated that it maintains its absolute ban on hosting international motorsport events or competitions within Russia and Belarus, and will continue to monitor the ongoing situation.
