As Russia invades Ukraine, Sebastian Vettel says he will not take part in Sochi event.

As feared, the world awoke this morning to the news that Russia has invaded Ukraine, and though, in the great scheme of things, Formula One is an irrelevance, its effects are already being felt within the sport.

Ignoring the various other Russian involvement in F1, at Aston Martin Sebastian Vettel has said he will not take part in September's Grand Prix.

"In my personal opinion, obviously I woke up after this morning's news, shocked," said the German. "I think it's horrible to see what is happening.

"Obviously if you look at the calendar, we have a race scheduled in Russia," he continued. "For myself, my own opinion is I should not go, I will not go.

"I think it's wrong to race in that country," he added. "I'm sorry for the people, innocent people who are losing their lives, getting killed for stupid reasons under a very strange and mad leadership."

Stressing that he was talking on a personal level, Vettel, as a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA), admitted that he would be raising the matter with his colleagues.

"I'm sure it's something we will talk about, but as I said as GPDA, we haven't come together this year."

"When a country is at war, it is not right to race there." Max Verstappen subsequently told reporters.

Unsurprisingly, fans took to social media calling for the cancellation of the race, with some websites claiming the event will be replaced by a third consecutive visit to Istanbul.

Officially, the sport was saying little, other than to issue a brief statement.

"Formula 1 is closely watching the very fluid developments like many others," it read, "and at this time has no further comment on the race scheduled for September.

"We will continue to monitor the situation very closely."

Check out our Thursday gallery from Barcelona, here.

LATEST NEWS

more news >

Vettel defends Masi

LATEST IMAGES

galleries >

Click to go to the main galleries section

READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by yakker, 25/02/2022 10:14

"Well done EUFA, now F1 follow suit"

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

2. Posted by Spindoctor, 25/02/2022 8:15

"@max Noble - Part of many Brits' genetic makeup comes from Mediterranean & African peoples. Clearly the Romans didn't "pull out" often or early enough!

The situation in Ukraine is extremely complex and part of the problem is that for many years it's been over-simplified by Politicians & Think Tanks to make it "easier" for us groundlings to understand. Now the ordure has hit the air-mover the reality has become clear. 1991 wasn't "the end of history", or even the Cold War...."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

3. Posted by Max Noble, 25/02/2022 5:15

"@elsiebc - free, democratic, science-based.
@ equator180 - It all went wrong when the Romans pulled out of Britain, eventually leading to the Visigoths sacking Rome, creating the original European power vacuum. So let’s blame the modern-day Italians for the current World mess. Or roll-back to the “Cradle of Life” and blame North Africa for starting it all (humanity)."

Rating: Positive (5) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

4. Posted by equator180, 25/02/2022 3:24

"Why not boycott the US as well, they started this mess in 2013-14. In law don't you penalize the person who lit the match to start the fire, isn't that person the arsonists? Not saying Russia is right but there are times that acts are justified. How about any of you sit and do nothing while so idiot walks up to your wife / partner and throws a hot cup of tea/coffee in her face, what do you do boycott the restaurant or......."

Rating: Negative (-1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

5. Posted by elsiebc, 25/02/2022 3:08

"Hey Max Noble, how many of the 94.4% rushed to get the "vaccine" doses and how many were coerced?"

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

6. Posted by Tony D, 25/02/2022 1:40

"“The universe ends, not with a bang, but with a whimper….”"

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

7. Posted by Max Noble, 25/02/2022 1:33

"@Tony D. Quite we are miles “off topic” in so far as we are not discussing winter testing… Yet as Martin Luther King Jr. observed, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

Accept Aramco dollars, and let China, Russia, and others host whatever they want as long as the dollars flow… to the sound of silence…"

Rating: Positive (3) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

8. Posted by Superbird70, 25/02/2022 1:31

"F1 did boycott South Africa some time ago as a protest against apartheid. "

Rating: Positive (3) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

9. Posted by Tony D, 25/02/2022 0:59

"I totally agree with you Max. We’ve gotten a bit off topic, though. FYI, Canada is more socialist, than communist. I now face the fact that my children face the possibility that they may get drafted and end up forced into a war that they never asked to be, or wanted to be a part of. If the heavy hitters of industry and sport sit back due to some squabbling over differences that equate to next to nothing, instead of doing something, what have they accomplished? I’m not saying drivers, and teams can single handedly stop this mess, but they can contribute to our world by not condoning, and promoting to these type of actions through silence. Good for the people that look at the things that actually matter to our children, like a potential world war, instead of a bunch of clowns that use a misinterpretation of the word “freedom” as an excuse to make everyone’s life miserable, instead of sucking it up, and dealing with a mildly annoying situation so that everyone can be healthy and safe. Thank you for your time. Again, don’t call Canadians communists. Rant over."

Rating: Positive (3) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

10. Posted by Max Noble, 25/02/2022 0:14

"@Defiant - quite agree all countries exist on a spectrum of “not so bad to very bad”. Being here in Australia, which made your list, I can assure you most of us are living the cold beer, BBQ at the weekend, laugh at English cricket team sort of life. I just checked, and we are at 94.4% COVID vaccinated for the eligible over 16 folk, and at 79.6% for “everyone with a pulse”.
So at best 5.6% of the population over 16 are feeling the jack boot of oppression on their necks. Not exactly a large minority is it? I also do not place “Can you please have a dose of life saving medicine?” On the same level of bad as “Move aside or my main battle tank will run you and your family over…”"

Rating: Positive (7) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

11. Posted by Superbird70, 25/02/2022 0:02

"@Defiant- You left the USA off your list. Exactly what is the colour of the sky in your world?"

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

12. Posted by Defiant, 24/02/2022 23:25

"@Phantom, Im in mooseland and yes I'm calling it a communist take over and I firmly believe this is completely correct. Castro jr is his father's son.

@pavlo, yes you can easily compare these places. Voting for someone you dont like is not where that statement comes from.
Try looking at the truth about the last few weeks here in the frozen north.

Crazy dictator is an opinion on your part too, Russia is also a democracy and that is who they voted for. Also invading the neighbouring countries is also a perspective as the history of the western and southern parts of Ukraine are complex to say the least. I hear from friends with family in those regions that families are happy to be part of Russia again and wanted them there. As this is 3rd hand information and I'm no authority on this, I take it with a pinch of salt but I'd believe my sources far more than I'd believe the BBC, CBC or CNN.

I stand behind my first F1 related post, Seb is now doing what Lewis has been doing for the last couple of years and my question is still valid... why don't the drivers make a stand on the multitude of countries that have dodgy things going on...(if you don't like my list) pick whichever one's you like, there are a few!"

Rating: Negative (-5) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

13. Posted by Pavlo, 24/02/2022 22:21

"I am surprised that people can really compare Canada, Australia, China and Russia.
@Defiant - you really think that invading the neighbor country and killing civilians is not any worse than voting for someone whom you don't like?
Huge respect to Vettel, who gets it right. It's ok to come to SA and support women there with actions, and it's not ok to support crazy dictator starting a war.
"

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

14. Posted by phantom, 24/02/2022 22:20

"@Defiant: '[...] Canada and it's (sic) communist take over." ? Where do you live, next door to Erewhon?"

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

15. Posted by meatball, 24/02/2022 19:55

"The FIA will prove itself once again to be truly spineless on matters like this (and ongoing human rights violations). If it all ends before september, regardless of what is left of Ukraine the FIA will take the position that "wE doN't mEdDLe In POliticS"... right... just bribes... We like Bribes."

Rating: Positive (4) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

Vettel will not race in Russia

LATEST NEWS

RELATED ARTICLES

LATEST IMAGES

POST A COMMENT

Post your comment

READERS COMMENTS

Share this page