The Ukrainian-Russian conflict impacts the world and that of Formula 1. The teams and the FIA meet to decide on the fate of the Russian GP.
After months of tension, the Ukrainian-Russian conflict exploded. The eyes of the world are on Russia, including that of the Formula 1. Therefore, the course of the Russian Grand Prix, scheduled for September 23-25 next is challenged.
To this day, Formula 1 takes this problem into consideration. On the evening of this Thursday, February 24, thethe bodies and all the F1 teams will meet in order to discuss the maintenance of the Grand Prix in question: “ Formula 1 is closely following the very changing development of the situation, like many others, and has no comment at this time on the Grand Prix scheduled for September. During last night, the ticket office of the GP was closed due to a “computer bug”. However, in times of health crisis, the FIA and the FOM have shown their ability to be able to change the calendar in place fairly quickly. For now, Istanbul and Jerez are the two circuits that have been highlighted, in case of last minute replacement.
Gunther Steiner – Managing Director of the Haas F1 Team – did not attend the midday press conference, where the drivers and team bosses go to speak publicly about the tests before -season in Barcelona. As a reminder, the American team is under contract with the Russian sponsor Uralkali.
This Thursday, Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen reacted to the situation. The two pilots do not intend to compete in the GP of Russia:
“It’s horrible to see what’s going on” declared the German in a press conference. “If you look at the calendar, we have a race planned in Russia. For my part, my personal opinion is that I should not go, I will not go. It’s a bad thing to race in this country. I feel sorry for the people, the innocent people who lose their lives, who are killed for stupid reasons. A very strange and crazy commandment. I’m sure we’ll talk about it, but the GPDA hasn’t met yet. Personally, I am so shocked and saddened by what is happening. We will see in the future. I think my decision is already made. »
« When a country is at war, it is not right to race there” retorted the 2021 world champion, during the same press conference.
Photo : Icon Sport
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