Scheduled for September 25, the Russian F1 GP should not be played in 2022. This Friday (25), the category issued a statement in which it says it is “impossible” to hold the race amid the country’s war with Ukraine .
“The F1 World Cup visits countries across the world with a positive vision of bringing people together. We are following the events in Ukraine with sadness and shock and hope for a peaceful resolution to the present situation. On Thursday (24th), the FIA and the teams discussed the position of our sport, and the conclusion is, including the view of all interested parties, that it is impossible to hold the Russian GP under the current circumstances,” the FIA ​​statement said.
This Thursday, important drivers on the circuit had already expressed their opposition to the possibility of holding the race in the country.
Four-time F1 world champion, German Sebastian Vettel said he was “shocked” by the Russian invasion and was emphatic in saying that he would not like to participate in the stage.
“It’s horrible to see what’s happening […] I speak for myself: I must not go and I will not. It’s wrong to run there. People are being killed for stupid reasons and a very strange and angry leadership,” the German said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Defending champion Max Verstappen, who is not usually involved in political issues, agreed with Vettel’s stance.
“If a country is at war, it wouldn’t be right to run there,” said the Dutchman. “But it’s not just what I think. The whole paddock has to decide what to do next,” continued the Red Bull driver.
The first commercial impacts of the war can already be felt in F1. The American team Haas announced on Thursday that, as of this Friday, its cars will no longer be sponsored by Urakali, a Russian fertilizer conglomerate.
The sponsor’s withdrawal was announced in a brief statement, in which the team said it “will not comment on commercial agreements”. Urakali’s chief executive is Russian billionaire Dmitry Mazepin, who is the father of Nikita Mazepin, a Haas pilot since 2021.
For the time being, it is still unclear whether the agreement has been definitively broken or whether it is a one-off action. On Haas’ social media, the conglomerate’s brand was also removed.
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