PM Scott Morrison pressures Aussie athletes to ditch Russian events as Winter Olympian Danielle Scott pulls out of World Cup

Australia’s Formula One ace Daniel Riccardo is being urged by the federal government to boycott the Russian grand prix and follow the lead of two Australian aerial skiers.

Aerial skiers Danielle Scott and Laura Peel are leaving Russia on Friday in the wake of the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Winter Olympians were due to compete at a World Cup event at Yaroslavl this weekend.

But Scott says the pair have been told by the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia to leave Russia.

“In the uniquely unifying power of sport, I wished so badly for this situation to be different,” Scott posted on Twitter.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison retweeted Scott’s post in support and urged other Australian athletes and sporting bodies to follow suit.

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“All international sporting events in Russia should have their authorisations withdrawn from all international sporting bodies,” Morrison said on Twitter.

“This includes the F1 grand prix in Sochi.”

Morrison’s stance places pressure on Riccardo to boycott the Russian grand prix in Sochi in late September.

The Australian driver has yet to make a public comment but his rival Sebastian Vettel, a four-time world champion, has already said he won’t compete in Russia.

Vettel has called on F1’s governing body, the FIA, to strip Russia of the grand prix.

Morrison also declared Russia should be stripped of hosting the F1 grand prix.

“The F1 should not be held in Russia, international tournaments should not be held there,” Morrison told reporters in Adelaide.

“I commend those Australians that are saying they won’t participate in anything that is occurring in Russia