Former Formula 1 driver Daniil Kvyat says Russian competitors should not be excluded from motor racing because of their country’s war with Ukraine.
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An extraordinary meeting of the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council is being held today after Ukraine’s motorsport federation asked the FIA to remove Russia from international motor racing following its invasion of Ukraine six days ago.
Several other international sports have already acted against Russia. National and club football teams face bans from competitions, including the upcoming World Cup. The International Olympic Committee, which formally recognises the FIA, recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes be barred from competitions because of Belarus’s role in supporting the military action.
Kvyat, who lost his AlphaTauri race seat at the end of 2020 and became Alpine’s reserve driver last year, is set to race in the World Endurance Championship with G-Drive this season.
In a social media post he called for an end to the conflict and appealed for peaceful dialogue. “I really hope for a peaceful solution to this situation in Ukraine, and that we can all live in peace,” Kvyat wrote. “Hopefully all parties can find a solution by sitting together and through a respectful dialogue.
“It horrifies me to see two brotherhood nations in a conflict. I don’t want military actions and wars to influence the future of humanity. I want my daughter and all children to enjoy this beautiful world.”
At the same time, Kvyat said banning Russian athletes and teams from international sport is the wrong approach.
“I also would like to highlight and address all sports federations across the world including [the] IOC that sport should remain outside politics and disallowing Russian athletes and teams from participating in world competitions is an unfair solution and goes against what sport teaches us in its principle – the unity and peace,” he said.
“Who else if not us sports people will help to glue nations together in the upcoming times?”
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