Ukraine Fallout: F1 Terminates Contract with Russian Grand Prix

• Under the terms of the deal, Russia’s F1 race was scheduled to move from Sochi to a revamped Igora Drive, near St. Petersburg, from 2023 to 2025, but this will no longer happen.

• Formula 1 swiftly convened a meeting and suspended its arrangement with Rosgonki—the event promoter—for the 2022 season.

• Meanwhile, Motorsport U.K., which sanctions events in the United Kingdom, has moved to prohibit Russian license holders from competing until further notice.

Formula 1 last week suspended its agreement with the Russian Grand Prix promoter—and now that contract has been completely terminated.

It is a strong response from Formula 1 and its commercial arm in response to Russia’s ongoing assault on Ukraine, which began last Thursday. Formula 1 swiftly convened a meeting and suspended its arrangement with Rosgonki—the event promoter—for the 2022 season.

But it has now moved to scrap the contract in its entirety.

Under the terms of the deal, Russia’s round was scheduled to move from Sochi to a revamped Igora Drive, near St. Petersburg, from 2023 to 2025, but this will no longer happen.

Formula 1 first visited Russia in 2014, with Russian President Vladimir Putin a key architect of the event, which took place around the Sochi stadium complext constructed for that year’s Winter Olympics.

It was one of Formula 1’s most lucrative events and Putin made sporadic appearances, including to hand out trophies on the podium, most recently in 2018.

The event itself was relatively unloved by the Formula 1 community due to the lackluster circuit and soulless setting.

Sochi’s grand prix produced few thrills and each of its eight events were won by Mercedes.

Formula 1 is yet to indicate whether Russia’s spot on the 2022 calendar – its event was scheduled for September 25 – will be taken by another round.

Formula 1 found no shortage of candidates in 2020 when it needed tracks to fill its pandemic-hit calendar but such cut-priced deals are no longer on the table.

Qatar and China are due to return to 2023’s schedule, with the Gulf state absent in 2022 because of its focus on its World Cup host duties, while China’s Covid Zero policy means an event there is not possible. Long-term Formula 1 has been in talks with Las Vegas for 2023 at the earliest.

Formula 1’s removal of Russia from its list of grands prix continues the country’s gradual isolation from the international sporting community in the past week.

But there remains ambiguity over the future of Haas’ title sponsor Uralkali and its driver Nikita Mazepin.

Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, convened on Tuesday and reached several decisions concerning Russia and complicit Belarus – but did not issue an outright ban on competitors from the countries, as had been requested by the International Olympic Committee.

That means as it stands Mazepin remains free to compete under the flag of the FIA.

Mazepin’s predicament, compared to some other Russian motorsport competitors, is clouded by his obvious connection to a firm that has close ties with Russia’s government. The 23-year-old’s father, Dmitry, effectively controls Uralkali, has heavily funded Nikita’s career, and last week was pictured at the Kremlin.

However some individual associations have already broken ranks with the FIA, most prominently Motorsport U.K., which sanctions events in the United Kingdom. They have prohibited Russian license holders until further notice, meaning that Mazepin would not be able to compete at the British Grand Prix, which is scheduled for July.

Haas has declined to comment on this week’s developments.

At the final day of Barcelona testing last Friday, the Haas F1 Team removed Uralkali branding from its car and ran a predominantly white livery. Haas is next due to be in track action next Thursday (March 10) when the second preseason test begins in Bahrain.