A major Formula One race has been canceled due to Russia invading Ukraine.
Officials stated on Friday that the high-speed auto race, scheduled for Sept. 25, will not be held amid Russia’s military actions. Some F1 teams have also begun taking action to strip away their connections to Russia and Putin’s administration.
“We are watching the developments in Ukraine with sadness and shock and hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to the present situation,” F1 officials said in a statement. “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.”
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A statement on the Russian Grand Prix pic.twitter.com/OZbbu9Z8ip
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 25, 2022
Russian Grand Prix promoter Ano Rosgonski confirmed the race is “suspended” but noted that “the purchased tickets are not canceled — there is no need to get refunds for them now because it is still possible that the round will take place and will be held as previously scheduled.”
The decision to cancel the Russian Grand Prix arrived after Aston Martin’s racer Sebastian Vettel said he would not race there if the race was held.
F1 organizers also appear to be taking action against Russian racers. The Haas F1 Team was seen on Thursday removing references to Uralkali, a Russian fertilizer company, from its vehicles. Uralkali is a subsidiary of Uralchem, a company owned by fellow Russian oligarch and Putin associate Dmitry Mazepin, according to the Drive. The team is also debating how to handle Mazepin’s son, Nikita Mazepin, who is a Russian driver.
Haas is already removing the Uralkali sponsoring from their trucks. #AMuS #F1 pic.twitter.com/MPuPGbE7HB
— Tobi Grüner ? (@tgruener) February 24, 2022
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The race could continue in a different country. Turkey is one option, as it has been used to replace two previous race events F1 canceled due to COVID-19, according to the Guardian.
