A 15-year-old Russian go-kart driver has apologized after he appeared to give a Nazi salute on the racing podium at the FIA Karting European Championship in Portugal over the weekend.
Artem Severiukhin claims he was gesturing to his family and friends at the time — but amid the fallout, he has been cut by his team, Ward Racing, and the international motorsports’ governing body has opened an investigation into the matter.
“Standing on the podium, I depicted a gesture that many perceived as a Nazi salute. It’s not true. I have never supported Nazism and consider it one of the most terrible crimes against humanity,” Severiukhin said in a video posted on Instagram after saying he wanted to apologize.
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Severiukhin, who competed with an Italian license due to his home country being banned from competing amid the invasion of Ukraine, said he was “ready to be punished.”
In video footage of the incident Sunday, Severiukhin, who is seen standing atop the podium, thumps his chest with his fist twice and appears to hold his hand out in a Nazi-like salute before doubling over laughing.
#Russian driver Artyom Severyukhin, competing under the Italian flag at the #European Junior Karting Championship, showed a #Nazi salute at the awards ceremony.
He competing under the #Italian flag because of the sanctions imposed on #Russia. pic.twitter.com/q4wOGHPsvR
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) April 11, 2022
The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, the motor sports governing body, announced an “immediate investigation” into Severiukhin’s “unacceptable conduct.”
“The FIA will communicate shortly on the further steps that will be taken in this case,” the association wrote on Twitter.
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Ward Racing also condemned Severiukhin and announced the termination of his racing contract.
