Russian karting driver expelled .. not because of the war on Ukraine
Swedish team Vard Racing has expelled Russian teenager Artem Severokin for performing the Nazi salute, while the FIA launched an investigation into what the 15-year-old did after he finished first in his category in the first round of the European Karting Championship in Portugal.
Severukin took part in the first rounds of the Portimao circuit with a driver's license issued by the Italian Automobile Federation (FIA) after the FIA banned Russian drivers from its competitions. Then he burst out laughing.
And the "FIA" confirmed in a statement Monday that it had begun "
For his part, the Swedish team "Vard Racing", which defends its colors, confirmed the Russian driver that he had expelled him in an Instagram post on Monday.
“The Fard Racing team is deeply ashamed of the driver’s actions,” he wrote, adding that it has publicly made clear its opposition to Russia's invasion of Ukraine by putting "No War" stickers on the drivers' helmets, and three Ukrainian refugee families are traveling with him.
"Based on these considerations, Fard Racing is re-evaluating his collaboration with Artem and will proceed to terminate his racing contract."
Contrary to what was said, Severukin asserted that he had been misunderstood, as a spokesman for the Russian Automobile Federation quoted him as saying, "I won a round of the European Championship (for karting) and was very happy."
"I am from Russia. I thanked the team and my relatives from Russia. Someone saw a bad gesture in my actions, but it is not. I just thanked them."
The site also quoted the Russian Automobile Federation as saying that it, in turn, was also investigating "a gesture that some considered a 'fascist salute'".
He noted that the driver was competing under the Italian flag and the Italian anthem was playing while making the gesture and "we are also told that we consider any appearance, even incidental to fascism and Nazism, unacceptable in Russian motorsport and among Russian athletes."
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