Whereas Oleksandr Bondarev is having fun with a burgeoning profession in karting as the primary Ukrainian signed to a Formulation One workforce, it has additionally been a troublesome interval for him as his nation continues to combat towards Russian invasion. In an interview with Tribuna.com, Bondarev stated he felt a “large shock” at every part that transpired again residence and is grateful that his groups have his again.
“I’m Ukrainian, was born in Kyiv, my complete household is from Ukraine,” he started. “I attempt to help my nation in such troublesome instances. I climb onto each podium with the Ukrainian flag, and I additionally took half within the Race for Ukraine charity run in England.”
When the full-scale invasion started on 24 February 2022, Bondarev was in Italy—the place he presently lives together with his mom—to compete within the inaugural Champions of the Future Winter Collection‘ season opener at Franciacorta Karting Monitor. Apply befell the identical day of the invasion’s begin; he completed second within the OK Junior class’s Tremendous Warmth two days later adopted by twenty-eighth within the Remaining after being pressured off beam on the ultimate lap.
“My mom woke me up at seven within the morning and informed me what had occurred,” stated Bondarev. “I had an enormous shock as a result of my dad was in Ukraine, so I felt a form of powerlessness. However I needed to settle for actuality as it’s, and I consistently stored in contact with my father.”
Regardless of the circumstances, he does discover some solace in his WSK groups Prema Racing and Kart Republic in addition to Williams Racing lending their help. Williams signed Bondarev to their Driver Academy final September, shortly after he received the 2023 CIK-FIA Karting European Championship in OK Junior. As soon as the 2024 karting season ends, Williams intend to ease Bondarev into method racing by competing within the Italian F4 Championship and the Formulation 4 UAE Championship.
“In all probability the largest help comes from Williams, which confirms how appropriate my alternative was (to signal with them),” he commented.
Bondarev can be maybe lucky that he has not needed to speak a lot with different Russian drivers or workforce personnel. Most worldwide sporting our bodies positioned restrictions on Russian athletes shortly after the invasion, although some since loosened their insurance policies to permit them to compete with a special nationality. The FIA permits Russian and Belarusian drivers to race below their sanction however provided that they condemn the battle and use a impartial flag.
Consequently, there are numerous cases of Ukrainians protesting occasions whereby they’d go up towards a Russian or rebuking them afterwards. With Russians permitted on the upcoming Summer season Olympics (albeit as “Particular person Impartial Athletes”), Ukraine’s Olympic Committee warned its rivals to keep away from contact with them. Within the racing world, Ukrainian Dakar Rally veteran Vadim Pritulyak boycotted a spherical of the Abu Dhabi Baja Problem in January through which the Russian and fellow Dakar alumnus Sergei Kariakin additionally participated.
“After the full-scale invasion started, I’ve virtually no communication with them,” Bondarev acknowledged. “If I’m pressured to speak to somebody, it’s only due to the race, however on the whole, communication, if any, is minimal. Personally, nobody approaches on their initiative, both they ignore [the war] or faux that nothing occurred.”
In March, he made a visitor look on the Underground LIVE stand-up programme to fundraise for a reconnaissance drone that might be donated to the Second Worldwide Legion of Defence of Ukraine. The hassle is led by Olexandr Petrenko, deputy chairman of the Ukrainian Karting Committee, and included raffling off a cap autographed by F1 nice Michael Schumacher that went for over USD$40,000 (€37,276, or roughly ₴1.6 million).
Bondarev is presently ninth within the FIA’s Worldwide Karting Rating.
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