The FIA had decided that Russian and Belarusian drivers would still be allowed to participate in international races, but as “neutral” participants. The document is also believed to include a passage asking Russian drivers to refrain from expressing support, direct or otherwise, for the actions of Russia or Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In addition to Rusinov, former Formula One driver Daniil Kyvat is also said not to have signed the FIA document – Kyvat had been announced as a prominent new addition to the G-Drive team. According to FIA rules, however, Kyvat is not allowed to work internationally for any other team.

Flörsch also affected?

Since G-Drive does not have its own racing team, but “only” provides sponsors and paintwork, things are now getting interesting behind the scenes: the actual team behind G-Drive is the Algarve Pro Racing Team, which takes care of the entire deployment of the cars in the WEC.

Sophia Flörsch was announced as a G-Drive driver for the 2022 WEC season, but she is said to have no contract with G-Drive, but with Algarve Pro Racing – and the Portuguese are probably working feverishly to make the WEC entries possible despite G-Drive’s withdrawal.

A replacement has not been announced for driver Nikita Mazepin, nor for the name sponsor.

Already next week Thursday the second Formula-1 test drives start in Bahrain before the season start on March 20th – currently it is assumed in the media world that the previous substitute driver Pietro Fittipaldi will drive in the second Haas next to Mick Schumacher.

The contract with the Russian promoter has been terminated – meaning not only no Formula One race in Russia for 2022, but also for the foreseeable future. Some Formula 1 and sports commentators go so far as to say that there will be no Formula 1 races in Russia as long as Vladimir Putin is president.

Originally, Formula 1 was to be held at Igora Drive near St. Petersburg from 2021, and before that the DTM was to make its GT3 debut at the circuit – but nothing came of it because of Corona.

The team announced today that Verstappen will extend his contract, which still runs up to and including 2023, by a full five years. Max Verstappen will drive for Red Bull until the end of the 2028 season!

Speaking about the new five-year-deal, Max said: “I really enjoy being part of the Oracle Red Bull Racing Team, so choosing to stay to the 2028 season was an easy decision. I love this Team and last year was simply incredible, our goal since we came together in 2016 was to win the championship and we have done that, so now it’s about keeping the number one on the car long-term.”

It emerged that there will be no races of any kind on Russian and Belarusian soil that are supervised by the FIA. The Formula 1 race in Russia has now been officially cancelled by the world governing body, as have other events such as the WTCR race and the International Drifting Cup.

Russian and Belarusian drivers or owners of a racing license issued by these federations may, however, continue to participate in FIA events – but under a neutral flag or the flag of the FIA. No flags or insignia of either country will be tolerated.

Nevertheless, due to the lack of support from their sponsors and partners, some Russian and Belarusian racers will certainly no longer be able to fulfill their sponsorship agreements in some racing series and will therefore no longer be able to compete.

Drivers, competitors and officials

• No Russian/Belarusian national teams to participate in international/zone competitions (e.g. FIA Motorsport Games), until further notice.
• Russian/Belarusian drivers, individual competitors and officials to participate in international/zone competitions only in their neutral capacity and under the “FIA flag”, subject to specific commitment and adherence to the FIA’s principles of peace and political neutrality, until further notice
• No Russian/Belarusian national symbols, colours, flags (uniform, equipment and car)- should be displayed or anthems should be played at international/zone competitions, until further notice

FIA Elected officers/Commissions’ members

• Representatives from Russian/Belarusian FIA Members to step aside temporarily from their roles and responsibilities of elected officers/commissions’ members *

FIA grants

• No FIA grant to be awarded to the Russian/Belarusian FIA Members, until further notice *
• No existing FIA grant funding will be paid to the Russian/Belarusian FIA Members *

* Subject to the approval of the World Council for Automobile Mobility and Tourism

In his second year in the IndyCar series, the New Zealander left Spaniard and reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou behind him. Third on the podium was Will Power, who like McLaughlin also drives for Penske.

Ex-Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean finished fifth (as in qualifying).

Belgian Thierry Neuville on Hyundai finished in second place, ahead of another Toyota: Esapekka Lappi, who was back in a Toyota in the WRC after three years.

With his success, Rovanperä has now also taken over the world championship lead ahead of Thierry Neuville, third is still Monaco winner Sébastien Ogier, who did not compete in Rally Sweden on M-Sport Ford.

In 2022, Chadwick will compete for the first time for the newly formed Jenner Racing Team. The first W Series race in 2022 will take place as part of the Formula One Grand Prix of Miami on the weekend of May eight, 2022. After that, the team will travel to Spain, England, France, Hungary, Japan, the USA (Circuit of the Americas) and Mexico as part of the Formula 1 supporting program.

Last fall, David Schumacher took the opportunity to pilot a Mercedes-AMG GT3 for the first time in Le Castellet/France and got on very well right away in the unfamiliar GT3 race car.

“There are worlds between the two vehicle categories,” emphasizes Schumacher, who will complete his first test drives for Mercedes-AMG Team WINWARD Racing on Wednesday of this week in Portimão, Portugal. “Due to the much higher weight alone, you have to drive the GT3 much more gently than the formula car. At the beginning I was really shocked by the ABS, which I didn’t know at all in the race car. Nevertheless, I quickly felt at home in the Mercedes-AMG GT3. It’s a real joy to drive!”