The race was due to be held in Sochi on September 25
Formula 1 has announced that this season’s Russian Grand Prix has been cancelled following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The race was due to be held in Sochi on September 25, but the sport has released a statement revealing that the race will no longer go ahead.
An F1 statement said “that it is impossible to hold the Russian Grand Prix in the current circumstances”.
It added that F1 was monitoring the ongoing situation in Ukraine “with sadness and shock and hopes for a swift and peaceful resolution”.
It is unconfirmed which race will replace the Russian GP, but it is expected to be provisionally replaced by Turkey.
It comes after world champions Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso all claimed that F1 should not race there, with Vettel saying he would not compete.
Vettel insisted: “I will not go. I think it’s wrong to race in the country.”
A statement on the Russian Grand Prix pic.twitter.com/OZbbu9Z8ip
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 25, 2022
All 10 F1 teams held a crisis meeting with CEO Stefano Domenicali and governing body the FIA on Thursday following the ongoing situation in Ukraine.
The Sochi race has been part of the racing calendar since 2014, however, it is due to move to St Petersburg’s Igora Drive complex from 2023.
An F1 spokesman had 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.”
More to follow…
