In 2022, for the first time in recent years, Russia was left without its representative in Formula 1, but 21-year-old talent Alexander Smolyar still performs in the junior series, who destroyed rivals on the track in Hungary in Formula 3.

Only now the award ceremony of the Russian turned into a circus.

“Option A – beer in South Butovo”

The development of Russian motorsport since the 2000s has been rapid. For 20 years we had practically nothing, and then there were tracks for international competitions, the crowning achievement of which was the holding of the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Sochi. A number of talented pilots also appeared, four of whom made it to F-1 – Vitaly Petrov, Daniil Kvyat, Sergey Sirotkin and Nikita Mazepin. Artem Markelov, Robert Shvartsman, Alexander Smolyar and others shone in the junior series.

The events of the end of February of this year have changed almost everything. The Formula 1 race was taken away from Russia, Mazepin was forced to leave Haas, Kvyat lost the option in endurance racing. However, the door was not completely closed. The same Kvyat managed to make his debut in the American NASCAR racing series, and Smolyar found an option to continue his international career in Formula 3.

The young guy proved himself great in racing and for several years successfully performed in the “three-ruble note”, making his way to the top. However, he has not reached the championship title yet. And at the end of last season, he was even offered to drink beer in Butovo instead of a pilot career.

– Option A – fresh beer in South Butovo. Option B is, accordingly, racing as part of a new project called BR03. And option C is to continue your career in Europe. In the near future, some general decisions will be made on the program, including on Sasha as part of the program. And the overall strategy will become clear. Based on it, we will make decisions on all athletes. This is common practice. And all the options that I have voiced are absolutely possible, – said in an interview with Drom.ru the head of the SMP Racing youth program, of which Smolyar is a part, Petr Aleshin.

Alexander Smolyar / Photo: © Joe Portlock – Formula 1 / Contributor / Formula 1 / Gettyimages.com

Brilliant victory and shameful award

It is clear that Aleshin was ironic, but the situation was not easy, because it is not welcome to sit in the junior series for a long time. It was all the more surprising to see Smolyar again in the international championship at a time when Russian sports were subjected to harsh sanctions. Alexander returned behind the wheel and showed quite good results, keeping the chance to compete even for the title.

Everything was fine until the Russian was allowed to go to the stage in the UK due to visa problems. Smolyar was forced to miss two races and lost the potential to earn many points. I had to catch up, for which it was necessary to prove myself at the next stage in Hungary.

Alexander Smolyar / Photo: © Joe Portlock – Formula 1 / Contributor / Formula 1 / Gettyimages.com

And Sasha brilliantly coped with this task. First he took first place in qualifying, and then won Sunday’s race in the rain. Moreover, his advantage throughout the distance was overwhelming. The main intrigue was what the organizers would come up with at the awards ceremony. Smolyar climbed to the top step of the podium, but instead of the Russian flag or at least the FIA ​​flag, he found a white spot on the screen. Instead of the Russian anthem, silence sounded.

All this looked as strange and ridiculous as possible. It was a shameful award, although Alexander probably understood and prepared for something like that. It is now important for him not to pay attention to such tricks of the race organizers, but to perform well in the remaining stages of the F-3 series, so that later he can finally take a step forward and go towards his dream.