FIA To Have ‘Negotiations’ With Russia In February

Three National Flags Of Russia Waving In The Wind On A Clear Day
Three national flags of Russia waving in the wind on a clear day. White, blue and red horizontal stripes. Russian Federation flag. 3D illustration render. Fluttering textile.
Three National Flags Of Russia Waving In The Wind On A Clear Day
Three national flags of Russia waving in the wind on a clear day. White, blue and red horizontal stripes. Russian Federation flag. 3D illustration render. Fluttering textile.

Russian racing drivers and teams’ struggles with F1 governing body the FIA could finally be nearing an end.

It was Haas who ousted Nikita Mazepin and his sponsor Uralkali at the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis three years ago, but the FIA simultaneously imposed restrictions on any drivers or teams in all FIA competitions.

Today, any Russian driver either needs to voluntarily renounce their ties to Russia – like Robert Shwartzman who switched to an Israeli license – or sign a document condemning Vladimir Putin’s regime and agreeing to race under a neutral flag.

But according to three-time Dakar Rally winner Anton Shibalov, who refused to agree to the FIA’s conditions, changes in the FIA’s attitude may now be afoot.

“As participants, including the guys from Kamaz, we are ready to go back even tomorrow,” he told Tass news agency.

“I hope that in the coming years this will all stabilise and we will be able to take part again. But I cannot say when exactly this will happen. It depends on the FIA.

“What I can say for sure is that in the near future, in February, negotiations on this topic are planned. It needs to be resolved now – the Dakar has ended, and the Formula 1 season is yet to start. Soon, the FIA president will be much less accessible,” Shibalov added.

The Kamaz-Master team dominated Dakar for years until the Ukraine crisis. Shibalov says even direct competitors are looking forward to the Russian team’s return.

“This talk has been going on for years. I think they will only be glad to see us,” said Shibalov. “As you may have noticed, there is no closeness or intrigue in the races now. There was a gap of 2.5 hours between first and second place,” he added, referring to the 2025 Dakar.

From F1 news to tech, history to opinions, F1 Chronicle has a free Substack. To deliver the stories you want straight to your inbox, click here.

New to Formula 1? Check out our Glossary of F1 Terms, and our Beginners Guide to Formula 1 to fast-track your F1 knowledge.

Comments

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

More in News

F1 The Movie 1920x1080

Brad Pitt’s ‘F1’ Delivers Apple’s First Box Office Hit

“F1” opens to $55.6M in North America, $144M globally — ...
F1 Grand Prix Of Austria

McLaren Dominate With 1-2 Finish In Austria

After a gap of 25 years, McLaren has finished first ...
ImolaGP GP F1 2025 on May 16 2025 at Imola, Emilia Romagna - Formula 1 Valtteri Bottas driver for Sauber — Photo by PitShots.com

Valtteri Bottas Says July Is His 2026 Comeback ‘Deadline’

July will be a critical month for Valtteri Bottas, the ...
Formula 1 2022: Austrian Gp

Formula 1 To Continue Racing In Austria On Long-Term Deal

The iconic Austrian Grand Prix will remain on the Formula ...
F1 Grand Prix Of Austria Qualifying

A Super Spielberg Saturday For Lando Norris

Lando Norris secured pole position, the twelfth of his career, ...

Trending on F1 Chronicle