The general manager of Formula 1, the Italian Stefano Domenicali, have stated that they have no plans to hold future races in Russia. The Russian Grand Prix was due to take place in Sochi this year before moving to Igora Drive in Saint Petersburg in 2023, but F1 canceled the race after Russia invaded Ukraine. And Domenicali assured that the “circus” has no intention of returning to the country.
“I always believe you should never say never,” he told Sport Bild magazine. “But in this case, I safely promise that we will not settle with them.”
The Russian promoter claimed a refund
Alexei Titov, CEO of Russian GP promoter ANO Rosgonki, said he expected F1 to cover the payments made following the cancellation of this year’s race. “This debt exists, it has been confirmed and our position on it has not changed,” Titov told Russia’s Tass news agency.
“We expect a refund regardless of the current position of Formula 1 management in relation to holding races in the Russian Federation.”
“The current situation in world sport is highly politicized. It is necessary to take Domenicali’s words here in mind. What he said has a strong political connotation that has nothing to do with the true spirit of sport,” he insisted. Titov.
“The future of our relations is not really clear. We will consider Domenicali’s position in our further work”
This is the first year since 2014 that a race has not been held at the Sochi Autodrom, a GP where Mercedes has won every race to date.
Source: La Verdad
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