The FIA has lifted the ban imposed on Russian and Belarusian competitors following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Motorsport was one of many sports affected by the ban, with Haas sponsored by potash giant Uralkali, the son of the company's owner Dmitry Mazepin, driving for the American outfit.

There followed a legal battle as Uralkali sought to reclaim $9m in sponsorship money previously handed to the team. At Zandvoort in 2024, Haas was in danger of having its cars seized by bailiffs and being banned from leaving the country, but the American team subsequently paid up.

Sport was quick to react to the invasion, in which Russia was assisted by Belarus, and the Russian Grand Prix at Sochi was another early cancellation.

Now, a month after the International Olympic Committee lifted its ban on Russian athletes, the FIA has followed suit.

"After consultation, the WMSC decided that the FIA emergency measures shall be revised to lift the restrictions on the participation of Russian and Belarusian drivers, national teams, individual competitors and officials, as well as those relating to the display of their national symbols, colours, flags and anthems," said the sport's governing body in a statement.

"Russian and Belarusian drivers, national teams, individual competitors and officials are allowed to participate in international/zone competitions without any restrictions. The requirement of signing a commitment to neutrality no longer applies."

Though Russian and Belarusian athletes can now display their national flag and have their national anthem played, neither country may host "international/zone competitions" until further notice.

"The continues to carefully monitor the events in Ukraine and reserves the right to take any further actions or implement further measures in the future, including any necessary actions required to comply with its obligations under any applicable sanctions regime and/or any contracts to which the FIA is a party."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by meatball, 18/08/2026 17:52

"Nothing has changed except the death toll. The oligarchs will still try to whitewash what Vlad has done to Ukraine. F*ck the FIA. Bunch of Russian Cucks."

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2. Posted by Wokingchap, 15/08/2026 12:03

"This Sux....absolutely disgraceful. Xxxxs xxxstxxxx xxxxs xxxkxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxx them"

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3. Posted by ffracer, 15/08/2026 6:03

"@ Max Noble - the bravery of any front line is extolled... and the torture in any camp, reported in Russian control or in any of the many countries, on the F1 schedule, reported is terrifying.

@stackvideo - simply brilliant, I was laughing for a good while. More importantly, you've surmised the current state of F1. Everything from the insistence on enforcing track limits, 0.1 pitlane speed infractions to insisting on not disconnecting the deficient battery hybrid 'clusterfuddle' until a PU can finally continue to actually remain flat out on any combination of straights and corners on the F1 schedule.

@Celtic Tiger - agreed.

I verily believe that Haas and the FIA sought each other to work out a way to navigate out of their respective nightmares, and immediately after the world imposed sanctions against Russia... and kudos to them. But the questionable racing venues F1 has kept on the schedule - and without remorse I must add - makes the FIA's ban against Russia look as ridiculous as listening to anything their hired "guru", Nicolas Tombazis, says when insisting on justifying his direction on all his imposed puff tech regs in any interview, and despite all the celebrated engineers that were once his fellow FIA colleagues and have since bolted because they could no longer stand by him in good conscience...

Let me return to the fetal position under my desk, muttering obscenities towards Domenicali and Trombazis, former Ferrari colleagues no less, for absolutely ruining our beloved sport... just need to find a handkerchief before they spot the froth ..."

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4. Posted by Max Noble, 15/08/2026 3:23

"Along with Trump they all need to go spend a few weeks living in trenches and fighting on the front line in Ukraine to “get a feel” for monitoring events there. To be fair. Once they’ve spent a few weeks fighting for Ukraine they should swap sides and spend a few weeks fighting in a front line Russian unit. I’d look for to the post investigation press conference. Assuming anyone was left to be interviewed…

As a potential follow-on they could spend a few weeks in a Russian PoW camp. I’m sure that’s worth monitoring too.

Shameful.
"

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5. Posted by stackvideo, 15/08/2026 2:08

"So the FIA had finially flushed itself past the S bend. "

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6. Posted by Celtic Tiger, 15/08/2026 0:10

"@ffracer - Yes, to be fair, you make a valid point. They did set their own (bad) precedent and it would be hypocritical not to follow through with it. However, as Adam Horovitz of Beastie Boys fame once said "I'd rather be a hypocrite than be the same person forever.".
I think the spirit of what he says can apply here. I honestly believe that if it wasn't for global pressures, coupled by HAAS pulling the plug on Urakali/Mazepin the way they did we would still be racing in Sochi. If the FIA had more integrity I don't think they would race in places like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, China, Russia and Azerbaijan in the first place but they don't and the money is just as green to them regardless where it comes from and that matters more to them. In a perfect world this wouldn't be an issue but, alas, here we sit with second-hand embarrassment from the FIA's decisions."

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7. Posted by ffracer, 14/08/2026 23:09

"Like everyone else who has posted, I was initially shocked to read this lift... and then I asked myself one question:

Please do not believe that I condone Russia's human rights violations- I firmly do not - but wouldn't the FIA continue to look hypocritical if they didn't? I mean, they continued to race in Iran and Bahrain, despite all the human rights violations committed there ( until recently ) and have every intention to returning so...."

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8. Posted by Celtic Tiger, 14/08/2026 19:10

"Well if a prestigious, trustworthy, dependable and reputable organization like the "International Olympic Committee" says its okay...

Yeah, I couldn't even type that with a straight face. Shameless w*nkers, the lot of 'em."

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9. Posted by Tyrbiter, 14/08/2026 17:48

"Never mind the quality, feel the width!"

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10. Posted by JamesD, 14/08/2026 16:41

"Absolutely disgusting. Seems there are no depths that the FIA won't sink to / get into bed with etc. etc.

I'm shocked but somehow not surprised. The swamp that is the FIA has been upgraded / downgraded - pick your word that fits - to a cesspit !!"

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11. Posted by Team Hack, 14/08/2026 16:33

"Thanks FIA brilliant idea, by the way any idea when the killing of innocent people will stop?

It’s a bad look for DTS."

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12. Posted by KKK, 14/08/2026 12:48

"I have only one word for the FIA :

SHAMEFUL"

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FIA lifts ban on Russian and Belarusian competitors

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