Formula One cancels contract with Russian Grand Prix

Live updates: follow the latest news on Russia-Ukraine

Formula One has removed Russia as a Grand Prix host after terminating their contract, the championship promoters announced on Thursday.

F1 decided to cancel the contract with Russian GP following the military action in Ukraine.

The decision comes after F1 announced that this year's race, which was set to take place in Sochi on September 25, had been pulled from the calendar. The contract ran until 2025.

A statement read: "Formula One can confirm it has terminated its contract with the Russian Grand Prix promoter meaning Russia will not have a race in the future."

Four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel and other drivers had said last week they would not have raced in Russia even if F1 had decided to go there.

The announcement was made after motorsport's governing body FIA said Russian and Belarusian drivers could still take part in its competitions in a neutral capacity.

Damage after the shelling of buildings in central Kharkiv, Ukraine. EPA

However on Thursday, Motorsport UK announced Russian-licensed drivers are barred from competing in the country.

It means the sole Russian driver on the F1 grid - Haas driver Nikita Mazepin - will not be able to take part in July's British Grand Prix.

Mazepin's immediate future in F1 also hangs in the balance. His father Dmitry Mazepin is a part-owner of Haas' title sponsor, Uralkali.

Haas removed the branding of the Russian fertiliser company for the final day of testing in Barcelona last week.

It was latest move by a sporting body against Russia over the military action in Ukraine.

On Thursday, Russian and Belarusian athletes were barred from competing in the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games by the International Paralympic