'It's wrong': F1 makes bold Russian GP call amid boycott ultimatum
The Russian Grand Prix will be removed from the Formula One calendar for 2022, days after several drivers vowed to boycott the race in the wake of Russian troops entering Ukraine.
Weeks of tension in Eastern Europe escalated this week after Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered troops to cross into Ukraine.
WOW: Daniel Ricciardo teammate 'absolutely livid' after F1 stunner
'BIASED': Lewis Hamilton's shock claim after F1 official's sacking
Skirmishes with ground troops have been reported, while infrastructure such as airports across Ukraine were targeted by missile strikes from Russia.
While first declaring the would monitor the situation in Russia and Ukraine earlier in the week, it was announced on Friday evening that a decision had been made to cancel the grand prix.
In a statement, F1 declared that a race in Russia under current circumstances was untenable.
“The FIA Formula 1 World Championship visits countries all over the world with a positive vision to unite people, bringing nations together,” the statement read.
“We are watching the developments in Ukraine with sadness and shock and hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to the present situation.
“On Thursday evening Formula 1, the FIA, and the teams discussed the position of our sport, and the conclusion is, including the view of all relevant stakeholders, that it is impossible to hold the Russian Grand Prix in the current circumstances.”
A statement on the Russian Grand Prix pic.twitter.com/OZbbu9Z8ip
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 25, 2022
Four-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel was the first of a number of drivers to publicly state their opposition to racing in Russia this season.
Prior to the announcement that the Russian GP would be cancelled, the Aston Martin driver stated he would not race there under any circumstances.
“I think it’s horrible to see what is happening. Obviously if you look at the calendar we have a race scheduled in Russia. For myself, my own opinion is I should not go, I will not go. I think it’s wrong to race in the country," he said earlier in the week.
“I’m sorry for the people, innocent people that are losing their lives, that are getting killed for stupid reasons and a very, very strange and mad leadership.
“I’m sure it’s something that we will talk about, but personally I’m just so shocked and sad to see what is going on.
“So we will see going forward, but I think my decision is already made.”
F1 drivers raise concerns about Russian GP amid Ukraine invasion
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen echoed Vettel's thoughts when asked for his opinion.
The Red Bull superstar said it was clearly unethical for the sport to continue its association with Russia until peace could be restored.
However, similarly to Vettel, he said F1 would be better served by holding a united front on the issue.
“When a country is at war, it’s not right to run there, that’s for sure,” Verstappen said.
“But what matters is not what I think, it’s the whole paddock that will decide.”
The conflict has raised several concerns for F1, in addition to various drivers publicly stating their opposition to racing in Russia.
The Haas team, which employs Russian driver Nikita Mazepin and is sponsored chiefly by Uralkali, the massive fertiliser producer owned by Mazepin's billionaire father.
Mazepin's future with the team is now reportedly in doubt, with Haas running their cars in a plain white livery during testing at Barcelona in the wake of the developments in Ukraine.
Haas usually sports a red, while and blue livery in a nod to the Russian roots of their title sponsor.
Earlier in the week, before F1 announced the cancellation of the Russian GP, Mazepin was fiercely criticised for saying he 'wasn't struggling' with the ramification's of the Russian government's aggression in Ukraine.
“I’m not struggling at all because I’ve always been a big supporter of sports without politics," Mazepin said during testing.
"Today I’m in Barcelona. I cannot tell you the excitement of driving the new car and the excitement of actually being involved and developing this new car, and actually from seeing the pictures for a year and then seeing it in physical carbon copy of the pictures is great.
“I’m just very happy to be in Barcelona and I hope these three days are longer because it’s a nice experience.”
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.
