BARCELONA, Spain – Formula One says it is “closely monitoring the very smooth developments” in Ukraine but has yet to make a decision on what to do about the Russian Grand Prix in September.
The Russian military launched a long feared invasion of Ukraine early Thursday, attacked its former Soviet neighbor from many directions despite warnings of dire consequences from the international community. Thursday’s attacks followed weeks of heightened tensions in the region.
The Russian GP will take place on September 25 at the Sochi Autodrome.
A Formula One statement said: “Formula One is closely monitoring developments as smoothly as many others and at this time has no further comment on the race scheduled for September. I will continue to monitor the situation very closely.”
F1 boss Stefano Domenicali will meet 10 team bosses on Thursday night to discuss the situation.
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel said on Thursday he would not be in that event if it continued.
Vettel, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA), said: “[The] GPDA hasn’t talked about this topic yet so I can’t speak on behalf of GPDA.
“In my personal opinion, obviously I woke up again to the news this morning and I was shocked.
“I think it’s horrible to see what’s happening and it’s clear if you look at the calendar we have Russia fixtures.
“For myself, my view is that I shouldn’t go, I’m not going. I’m just really shocked and sad to see what’s going on. We’ll see the move forward, but I think the decision is decided. Mine was launched.”
Defending world champion Max Verstappen said: “When a country is at war it’s not right to race there, that’s for sure.”
F1 is currently at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya for pre-season testing. One of ten F1 cars that took part in that test has garnered significant attention this week.
The title sponsor of the American football team Haas is Dimtry Mazepin’s Uralkali company.
Haas debuted the car earlier this year with the Uralkali name and emblem on the team vehicles and kits and has used the company’s red, white and blue Russian flag colors as its own. That car, which looks like a Russian flag from many angles, drove around Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya on Thursday unchanged on Thursday as it entered pre-season F1 testing.
However, on Thursday night, the team confirmed that they will run all-white on the final day of testing and remove all Uralkali logos. A group statement added: “There will be no further comment at this time regarding partnership arrangements within the group.”
Mazepin is a close associate of Putin, while Putin ally Sergei Chemezov has been the company’s chairman since 2014.
Mazepin and Uralkali were not included in the first wave of international sanctions. As part of the team’s sponsorship deal, Mazepin’s son, Nikita, raced for Haas.
Team boss Guenther Steiner was due to speak to the media during a press conference on Thursday, but Haas withdrew him from the session. It also canceled a press conference with Nikita Mazepin later in the day.
Team owner Gene Haas is at Circuit de Catalunya but has so far not spoken to the media.
Another factor for Haas to watch from a racing perspective will be Nikita Mazepin’s visa status if sanctions are extended to Russian nationals denied entry to certain countries in the coming months. .
If Mazepin is unable to enter the countries, Haas’ reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi – grandson of former world champion Emerson – will be available. Fittipaldi replaced Romain Grosjean at Haas at the 2020 Sakhir and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix as Romain Grosjean was recovering from injury at that year’s Bahrain Grand Prix.
