Paris (AFP)
The promoter of the “Formula-1” world championship announced a final termination of the contract linking him with the promoter of the Russian Grand Prix, against the background of the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army.
The promoter of the first category, “Formula-1”, said that “Formula-1” can confirm that it has terminated the contract with the promoter of the Russian Grand Prix, which means that Russia will not receive a world tour in the future.
And the championship supervisors announced last week the cancellation of the Russian race, after the war on Ukraine, as the Sochi circuit should have hosted the last edition of the Grand Prix since it had done so in 2014, before Saint Petersburg was awarded the honor of hosting starting in 2023.
He added: The decision was taken this week within the framework of the talks that followed last week’s announcement regarding the 2022 prize, in reference to the decision to cancel the race that was scheduled to be held next September.
The “Formula-1” decision comes in the context of accelerating events and within a series of measures and sanctions taken by many international federations towards Russian sports and athletes.
The International Olympic Committee recommended on Monday that Russians and Belarusians be banned from participating in sports competitions, thus breaking a long tradition of not interfering in political or geopolitical discussions.
For its part, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) decided to allow Russian or Belarusian drivers to participate under a neutral flag in the competitions it organizes, such as the Formula 1 World Championship, while emphasizing that no international competitions will be held in Russia and Belarus, until further notice. The flag – symbol or anthem of Russia – Belarus will not be used in international competitions until further notice.
These rapid events cast a shadow over the future of the Russian driver Nikita Mazepin in the “Formula-1”, which is in the wind, and is linked to the fate of the partnership between his American team, Haas, and its main Russian sponsor, Uralkali Group, which specializes in the production of potash.
Mazepin, who was also banned from participating in the British Grand Prix, arrived in Formula 1 last year, and is the son of Russian billionaire Dmitry, a shareholder in Uralkali.