The Formula 1 Russian Grand Prixscheduled for September 25 in sochiwas canceled as announced this Friday by the promoter of the world championship of the specialty, as a result of the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army.
“On Thursday night, Formula 1, the FIA (International Automobile Federation) and the teams discussed the positioning of our sport and the conclusion is that, taking into account the opinion of all the affected parties, it is impossible to organize the Russian Grand Prix under the current circumstances,” F1 promoter Formula One explained in a statement.
“We follow the events in Ukraine with sadness and shock and hope for a speedy and peaceful resolution of the current situation,” the note added.
This decision comes the day after several riders on the grid, including the world champions Max Verstappen (2021) and Sebastian Vettel (2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014), demanded the cancellation of the race.
“It’s horrible to see what happens. For my part, my opinion is that I shouldn’t go, I won’t go,” Vettel said at a press conference coinciding with the pre-season training sessions that are taking place at the Montmeló circuit, near Barcelona (northeast of Spain).
“I feel very sorry for the innocent people who lose their lives, who die for stupid reasons”, for some “very strange and crazy leaders. We are going to talk about it, but I have already made my decision”, insisted the pilot of Aston-Martin.
“When a country is at war, the right thing is not to run there, that is sure. But what counts is not what I think, it will be decided by the whole paddock”, said, for his part, the reigning world champion, the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull).
This Friday, on the last day of pre-season training, the Haas team, whose single-seaters usually wear the colors blue, white and red, matching those of the Russian flagbrought out completely white cars, with no reference to its main sponsor Uralkali, a Russian company specializing in potash.
The team manager Gunther Steiner stated that next week the future of the collaboration between Haas and Uralkali, whose boss is Dimitri Mazepinfather of Nikita Mazepin (Russian pilot), one of the two team riders, who is also not guaranteed to continue. (D)
Source: Eluniverso
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