Formula 1 has terminated the Russian Grand Prix’s contract with immediate effect in the wake of the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
In the days after Russia’s military attack on Ukraine began, F1 announced that this year’s race in Russia, due to take place on September 25, would not go ahead as planned.
The race’s promoter, Rosgonki, believed the contract had only been suspended and that it was possible the event could take place at the Sochi Autodrom.
But in a statement issued on Thursday, F1 confirmed that the Russian Grand Prix’s contract had been terminated.
“Formula 1 can confirm it has terminated its contract with the Russian Grand Prix promoter meaning Russia will not have a race in the future,” the statement reads.
The announcement has ended plans for Russia’s race to move from Sochi to St Petersburg in 2023, with F1 having initially agreed to take the event to Igora Drive until at least 2025.
It follows the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council meeting held earlier this week to discuss the matter further, and resulted in Russian and Belarusian drivers still being able to still compete but in a neutral capacity under an FIA flag.
But national motorsport bodies such as Motorsport UK have taken stricter action, banning Russian and Belarusian drivers from UK-based events.
This has left Russian F1 driver Nikita Mazepin’s future with Haas in doubt. The team will consider whether or not to continue its ties with title sponsor Uralkali in the coming days after removing the branding from its car on the final day of testing last week.
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