F1 Russian Grand Prix remains on calendar despite invasion of Ukraine

Formula One’s Russian Grand Prix remains on the calendar despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The race at the Sochi Autodrom is set to take place in September but neither F1 nor the sport’s governing body, the FIA, have acted to cancel the meeting which is backed by the Russian government.

A statement from F1 on Thursday morning noted only that the sport was monitoring the situation. “Formula 1 is closely watching the very fluid developments like many others and at this time has no further comment on the race scheduled for September. We will continue to monitor the situation very closely,” it read.

The FIA has still yet to issue any comment on the race in Russia. Uefa is set to drop St Petersburg as the venue for this season’s Champions League final.

F1’s teams and drivers are currently in Barcelona for the first test of the season. Seven of the teams are based in the UK and the British government’s position on holding sporting events in Russia is already clear.

Boris Johnson has said there should be “no chance of holding football tournaments in a Russia that invades sovereign countries”, a position emphasised by a government spokesperson, who said: “We have serious concerns about the hosting of international sporting events in Russia, such as the Champions League final, and will discuss these with the relevant governing bodies. We will not allow president Putin to exploit sporting and cultural events on the world stage to legitimise his renewed illegal invasion of Ukraine.”

In 2014, the year the first Russian GP was set to be held, there were calls for it to be cancelled after the Russian annexation of the Crimean peninsula. The former world rally champion and a candidate for the FIA presidency, Ari Vatanen, was