Formula 1 will no longer race in Russia after Formula One Management (FOM) terminated its contract with the race’s promoters.
The Russian Grand Prix had been held at the Sochi Autodrome – around the site of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games – since 2014. Last year, Formula 1 announced that the Russian Grand Prix would move from Sochi to a permanent circuit at Igora Drive near St Petersburg from the 2023 season on a multi-year contract.
However the series confirmed today its contract with race promoter Rosgonki has been cancelled.
The decision comes after further discussions were held this week about the future of the Russian Grand Prix after FOM announced that this year’s race at Sochi would not be held. In a statement, Formula 1 confirmed that it had “terminated its contract with the Russian Grand Prix promoter, meaning Russia will not have a race in the future.”
It is the latest in a series of actions taken following the Russian military invasion of Ukraine last week, which has been condemned internationally. Heavy sanctions have been placed on the Russian Federation by the United States, United Kingdom and European Union, with multiple national governments forbidding citizens and companies in their countries from doing business with Russian-owned businesses.
Earlier this week the FIA placed restrictions on international motorsport events being held in Russia and stated the country’s racers would only be allowed to participate as neutrals. However yesterday the governing body of motorsport in Britain, Motorsport UK, took a further step by banning Russian competition licence holders from taking part in races in the UK.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali recently revealed that FOM should have “no problem at all” in arranging a replacement race for the Russian round originally scheduled for September 25th this year. This year’s calendar was originally planned to feature 23 grands prix, the most of any Formula 1 season.
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