FIA drops neutrality rule for Russian drivers

The FIA has removed neutrality requirements for Russian and Belarusian drivers, while Ukraine has appealed for the governing body to reverse the change.

The FIA has removed neutrality requirements for Russian and Belarusian drivers after revising its emergency measures, as reported by Autosport and Motorsport.com. Both outlets said competitors from those countries are no longer required to sign the neutrality commitment introduced after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The move prompted a response from Ukraine. BBC Sport reported that Ukraine’s government appealed against the FIA decision, while RaceFans said Ukrainian officials urged the governing body to reverse the change and warned against motorsport being used for “sportswashing”.

The material provided does not include an official FIA statement or direct comment from Formula 1 teams or drivers. Manor Marussia, a British Formula 1 constructor, competed in the 2015 and 2016 seasons and recorded no wins or constructors’ titles.