War in Ukraine: Formula 1 has terminated its contract with Russia

After the cancellation of this year’s Sochi GP, Formula 1 announced on Thursday (3/3) that it had broken its contract with the race organizers and that the GP of Russia will also no longer be in the F1 program after 8 years in 2022.

The F1 decision follows the ongoing sanctions imposed by world sporting bodies on Russia over the military invasion of neighboring Ukraine by the country’s armed forces.

F1 had a contract for the race with the Russian company Rosgonki, which had been the organizer of the GP since 2014. It was then that it was organized for the first time at the Sochi Autodrome of the Black Sea resort and has been observed for several years since Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In 2017, Liberty Media, owners of Formula 1, extended its contract with the Russians until 2025 and then secured prestigious sponsorship of the race from the VTB Group. However, now the American company has announced the final termination of its contract with Rosgonki, which means that F1 will not return to Russia.

The official F1 announcement states: “THE formula 1 can confirm that she has terminated her contract with promoter of the Russian Grand Prix, which means that Russia will not have a game in the future”.

Last Tuesday (01/03), the FIA ​​​​announced that Russian and Belarusian athletes can still compete in international motorsport, but only if they fly the neutral flag of the FIA.

As a result, Nikita Mazepin can continue to compete with Haas in F1, which will theoretically happen if and as long as Russia’s Uralkali sponsorship of Carl Haas’ team lasts.