Formula 1 cancels Russian Grand Prix following Ukraine invasion
Formula 1 has cancelled this season’s Russian Grand Prix following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Sochi race was due to be held on Sept 25th but its now been announced that it is “impossible to hold the Russian GP in the current circumstances.”
The cancellation comes after drivers Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso all spoke out and said F1 should not race there. Vettel insisted: “I will not go. I think it’s wrong to race in the country.”
A crisis meeting was held by all 10 F1 team bosses with the sport’s CEP Stefano Domenicali and the governing body the FIA on Thursday evening following the escalation in Ukraine.
Domenicali joined by a video link-up from London with the teams all at pre-season testing in Barcelona.
The Sochi race has been a fixture on the calendar since 2014 but is due to move to St Petersburg’s Igora Drive complex from 2023.
After Russian President Putin launched the military invasion of Ukraine, an F1 spokesman said on Thursday: “Formula One is closely watching the very fluid developments like many others and at this time has no further comment on the race scheduled for September.
“We will continue to monitor the situation very closely.”
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