Russia launched a major military attack against Ukraine last Thursday morning after several months in which tension between the two countries increased. Before that, the Russians had already sent troops to two breakaway regions earlier in the week.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had “chosen the path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine”, and that the UK and its allies would “respond strongly “.
The crisis has raised many questions about the major sporting events taking place in the region, including the Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix that is due to take place at the Sochi Autodrome on September 25.
Motorsport’s top flight issued a brief statement on the situation on Thursday: “Formula 1 is keeping a close eye like many others on everything that is happening, and at this time has no further comment on the race scheduled for September.”
“We will continue to monitor the situation very closely,” the statement concluded.
This crisis has already caused UEFA to postpone the Champions League final that should be played in Saint Petersburg during the month of June. European soccer’s governing body also postponed a UEFA Youth League match in kyiv, Ukraine.
Currently, F1 only has one Russian driver on the grid, Nikita Mazepin, who assured last Wednesday that he was focusing 100% on his job “without looking at politics”.
“I’m in Barcelona today, I can’t explain the excitement of driving the new car and the feeling of being really involved in its development, seeing the footage for a year and then seeing it in real life is something that’s great.”
“So I am very happy to be at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and I hope that these three days of testing will be long, because it is a very pleasant experience.”
This year ‘s Russian Grand Prix will be the last race at Sochi before the event moves to the newly renovated Igora Drive outside St Petersburg from the 2023 season.
