Photo: Formula Motorsport Limited
The Sochi round has been provisionally removed from the 2022 Formula 2 calendar as the Russian Grand Prix faces cancellation as Formula 1 responds to the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
A multi-faceted military advancement on neighbouring country Ukraine by the Russian army took place earlier this week and has already caused a major loss of life and led to the international community responding with sanctions on Russia.
F1 has decided to call off its grand prix in Sochi on September 23-25, and put out this statement:
“The FIA Formula 1 World Championship visits countries all over the world with a positive vision to unite people, bringing nations together.
“We are watching the developments in Ukraine with sadness and shock and hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to the present situation.
“On Thursday evening F1, 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.”
Political unrest led to two GP2 Asia rounds in Bahrain being called off in 2011.
Russian companies involved in motorsport that will be impacted by the range of sanctions being considered includes SMP Bank, which supports several young Russian drivers, the Uralkaki minerals firm part-owned by the father of Haas F1 driver Nikita Mazepin and a partner of the Hitech GP team that races in F2, Formula 3 and Formula 4, and G-Drive Racing which races in sportscars but also has links to junior single-seaters.