BARCELONA, Spain – Formula 1 canceled the Russian Grand Prix in September following Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine.
Russian troops continued to enter Ukraine on Friday, which caused widely condemned and punished from world leaders.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and the 10-team bosses discussed the race situation during a call on Thursday night.
On Friday, F1 confirmed the race – scheduled for September 25 – would not take place.
A statement said: “We are following developments in Ukraine with sadness and shock and hope for a speedy and peaceful resolution of the current situation. On Thursday evening, Formula 1, The FIA and the teams discussed the position of our sport, and concluded, including the views of all parties involved, that it is not possible to hold the Russian Grand Prix under the current circumstances. “
F1 will likely try to fill the gap on the calendar with another race.
The Russian Grand Prix has been added to the F1 calendar after an agreement was signed between Vladimir Putin and former F1 coach Bernie Ecclestone.
Putin awarded podium titles to the top three finishers in 2014 and 2015.
On Thursday, four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel said he will boycott the event if it continues.
F1 is holding pre-season testing at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya this week. Team USA Haas, taking part in Friday’s run in a plain white car, made the decision dropped the brand from Russian supporter Uralkali.
Uralkali signage has also been removed from the team’s private house and the truck in the parking lot.
Various Russian news agencies reported Uralkali founder Dmitry Mazepin, the father of driver Haas Nikita, as one of the business leaders who met Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on Thursday to discuss the sanctions imposed. to Russia. Mazepin and Uralkali are not currently covered by those sanctions.
ESPN has reached out to Haas to confirm the meeting in Moscow.
