Vitaly Petrov will, as a mark of respect, race with a black helmet for the Italian GP after a Russian plane crash killed 43 people earlier this week.
The Yak-42 plane was carrying the entire Lokomotiv ice hockey team but crashed shortly after takeoff. Just two passengers survived.
“I want to offer my greatest condolences to all the families and friends of victims of this awful catastrophe”, said the Russian driver.
“It doesn’t matter which team you support, the whole of Russia is shocked by what has happened. I don’t understand how things like that could have happened because after recent catastrophes aviation control was doubled”.
