Former Red Bull and AlphaTauri driver, Daniil Kvyat has spoken out against the banning of Russian athletes from international competitions.

The driver's comments come as FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem has called an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport council to discuss "matters relating to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine".

Ignoring the fact that the FIA president has been widely criticised for referring to Russia's war on Ukraine as a "crisis", the Haas F1 team is currently considering the future of its involvement with Russian potash giant Uralkali which is owned by Dmitry Mazepin, father of driver Nikita.

"I really hope for a peaceful solution to this situation in Ukraine, and that we can all live in peace," Kvyat posted on his social media accounts today.

"Hopefully all parties can find a solution by sitting together and through a respected dialogue," he adds.

"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.

"I would also like to highlight and address all sports federations across the world, including 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 principle: the unity and peace.

"Who else if not us sports people will help to glue nations together in the upcoming times."

As Russia, now aided by Belarus, intensifies its assault on Ukraine, sanctions, including the exclusion of the country and its nationals from international sport, appears to be one of the most basic ways for the free world to make clear its condemnation at what is happening.

And while Oligarchs seek ways around the various sanctions, using their vast wealth to ease their passage, the ban on Russian sports gathers pace.

Though Haas insists that it can continue without Uralkali's funding, many believe the American outfit will be irreparably damaged without it.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Max Noble, 02/03/2022 23:20

"@elsiebc - quite… As I do not have the “Han Solo” option for ending conversations happy to call it at that. Re-reading your prior entry I believe your question is either “Is your president a dick?”, or “Should you defect?”, or “Are you responsible for your government?”.

To which I’m happy to answer;
1. I doubt your president is a “dick” (unless his name is Richard) but his interests, and concerns might not align very well with yours.
2. If you are unhappy with your current country I recommend you find a new one. These days under non-war conditions usually called immigration.
3. Assuming you took part in a “free, and fair” election, yes you, the people, are directly responsible for the government you elect, and then tolerate. I recommend you start writing to your local government representative on a regular basis, volunteer to be a government helper, or join a political party, and actually stand for election yourself. None of which involves going to war with any one.

To answer your latest question; you can judge people by what they are willing to walk past - you didn’t do your Martin Luther quotes homework did you? (Drops mike, walks off)
"

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2. Posted by elsiebc, 02/03/2022 15:20

"@ Max Noble You never answered my question, why should I answer yours? In the meantime I won't judge the many by the actions of the few."

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3. Posted by Max Noble, 02/03/2022 8:20

"@alvarezh3 - quite. We have a number of folk posting on this site who would appear to be, ah, trolling, rather than offering reasoned argument over a specific defined point. A touch of ribbing, or sledging as the Australian cricket team would call it, it all well and good. Yet we all need to be free, and safe, to have wildly differing opinions, and yet respect one another, and live with the fact that some consider Oasis “the bomb”, while others will forever be Blur fans… and that’s ok! It. Is. All. Good.

Armed invasion is not good. I look forward to @elisebc reporting on their personal enlightenment.

Namaste.
"

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4. Posted by alvarezh3, 02/03/2022 5:14

"@ Max Noble:

"So sure, let’s all keep skipping in the rose garden, and play sport and say to those poor upset Russian athletes that it is fine to invade, genocide, and subjugate nations, as long as they observe track limits, and do not take too long between serves! There we go! All good!"

Well said. All the while their Ukrainians counterparts are under siege, unable to practice, to renew passports nor get visas. Can't even get out of the surrounded cities and reach the western frontiers to leave the country and go to a sport meeting somewhere in the world. Banks are closed, and food is getting scarce. If they leave the country there is no assurance on if, and when, they can come back and see their families again.

I am wondering if free to do as always except to compete in sports events, are Russian athletes/sport-men even thinking on how their fellow counterparts in Ukraine are suffering do to their president's actions? Or are they just inconvenienced that they are not allowed to compete? Kvyat did not say anything about their (the Ukraine's) precarious situation, only voiced his concerns about the "unfairness" to the Russian sport-men/sports-women imposed to them do to the situation. I guess Daniil did not realize that Vlad had imposed worst "unfairness" upon all the Ukrainians, athletes included!"

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5. Posted by Max Noble, 02/03/2022 4:00

"@elsiebc - that is what well reasoned and run free elections are for. When a people fall to revolution government lost the plot long before. I’ve already quoted Martin Luther King Jr. in previous responses, so please go pick one yourself that you think I’m most enjoy quoting to you now… done…? OK. Pol Pot, Hitler, Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan, Caligula… PitPass is not here to teach history.

We all have a social contract to be up-standing citizens for our nation.

When our nation has a corrupt despot in control, we need to do more than whine that we still wanna have fun…

So no forget Stalin @elsiebc. For me, take a quiet hour to look into your own soul and ask what good you provide to society. Bound your own sins, then elect to do something useful to address them. There is something of Stalin in all of us, it is a personal daily battle to reach the god inside, and choose to do good. Even if it hurts… "

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6. Posted by elsiebc, 02/03/2022 2:29

"@ Max Noble So what you're saying is since my president is a dick I should defect, too. That all citizens are responsible for what their governments do. That certainly isn't the case where I live and if it's not true here it most definitely isn't true anywhere. If so, please do tell.

These young folks need to be penalized for the sins of their governments and of their dictators of nearly 100 years ago? If you want to bring up the sins of Stalin, I think there's another guy with a lot more blood on his hands whose national anthem we hear more race weekends than not."

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7. Posted by Max Noble, 01/03/2022 23:53

"@Defiant & @Great_White_Shark: Yup - ignore established history, reliable checked sources, and go with a random typing on Twitter, or ten year old recycled video on Tik Tok - a far better way to build a world view.

Research “The Holodomor” or “Great famine” which Stalin inflicted on Ukraine in 1932, and 1933. Estimates range from 3.5 to 7 *million* dead. Millions dead @Defiant, @GWS. Was that fair? Was that MSM misleading?

So sure, let’s all keep skipping in the rose garden, and play sport and say to those poor upset Russian athletes that it is fine to invade, genocide, and subjugate nations, as long as they observe track limits, and do not take too long between serves! There we go! All good!

Lord above. If we follow the motto of “Win as a team, lose as a team” then Russians need to own this and help sort it out. Don’t like what is happening? Then DEFECT. Rudolf Nureyev had the backbone to do that at the very height of the Cold War. That was character, and taking a stand. Remove the entire issue! Defect from Russia, cut all ties with the country, and compete under a new flag you believe in…. How about all concerned Russian athletes obtain Ukrainian passports to really send a message to Vlad?

@Defiant, @GWS - recommend you research reliable, considered, cross-checked historic facts, and current political environments, then offer considered opinion for discussion rather than - well rather than…"

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8. Posted by Defiant, 01/03/2022 22:17

"I'm astonished at the levels of trust people seem to have of the MSM of whichever country they live in. The narrative being parrot fashioned by many is pretty eye opening of many people.

@Great_white_shark....... I know right!!!!"

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9. Posted by alvarezh3, 01/03/2022 21:19

"@Great_white_shark

I will admit that I know very little about the Yemen and Somali conflicts. But legal or not , the reason for the intervention in Irak, Libia and Afghanistan was to depose of governments that were allowing those to or making acts of terrorism themselves.

Husain commited genocide against the Kurds. Gaddafi blowing up the PanAm 747 over Lockerbie. The Taliban harboring al-Qaeda who blew up the Twin towers. In each case the "invaders" have returned to their home soil and out of the territories that didn't belong to them.

What has the Ukrainian government done wrong?

Is Russia pulling back after deposing of the Ukrainian government?

Please, don't compare!"

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10. Posted by Great_white_shark, 01/03/2022 20:20

"LOL the western world doesnt like when an Arab calls a war a "crisis". That's what they have been doing in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya, Somali ect. WHen they do it it's an intervention but if someone else does it it's different? Last time I checked the Iraq war was illegal and based on lies. Did they ban American or British athletes? I thought not "

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11. Posted by KKK, 01/03/2022 20:02

"You shouldnt be talking to us. Talk to your President, talk about all the mis-information that he is dishing out. Stop sitting on the fence and claim "its nothing to do with me". You are RUSSIAN...do something about it!"

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12. Posted by alvarezh3, 01/03/2022 17:06

"Daniil, I have always liked you and (hopefully) always will. Russian citizens are -in my view- nice and peace loving people.

I am with you, banning athletes is an "unfair solution".... but far more damaging is FIRSTLY, invading Ukraine.

Banning athletes kills no one, attacking a peaceful nation with tanks and rockets, does.

Please talk and convince your president into practicing peace.

Thank you in advance."

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13. Posted by Defiant, 01/03/2022 17:02

"I agree with Daniil, sports has before and should bring people together, it's not like he or the bumper car driver Nikita have any say in what their country does anyway.

Cancelling the Russian GP (which isn't really mentioned in this article) I'd agree with on safety risks to participants and teams alone. Demanding drivers pay the price for other peoples actions isn't fair.

I think he gave a fair statement here. Getting involved in the words of politics would be dumb for sportsmen/women and virtue signalling is always eye roll, urgh inducing, nonsense.
"

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14. Posted by Rock Doc, 01/03/2022 16:59

"Invading another country just because you don't like them and killing hundreds of their civilians is unfair."

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Banning athletes an "unfair solution", says Kvyat

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