FIA president Jean Todt says there is no reason for the Russian Grand Prix not to go ahead this year, despite the escalating crisis in Ukraine.
The inaugural Russian GP in Sochi is set to debut on October 12th, but the race has been cast under a shadow following Russia’s invasion of the Crimea and the hightened tensions between the Russian and Ukraine governments.
Todt doesn’t see any reason to follow the governing body of the World Superbike Championship which recently cancelled a round of the championship due to take place in Moscow in September.
“At the moment there is no change in the calendar. Russia is on,” he is quoted as saying by Autosport.
“I am comfortable with what the FIM is doing, sure, but at the moment we don’t have any reason to reconsider any race we have on the calendar.
“We speak to people who are involved with all that, but at the moment we have nothing that should change the running of the calendar.”
Should the situation escalate, it’s likely pressure will be put on the FIA and FOM to review the event, but until either organisation makes a decision, the teams are contractually obliged to attend.
Discussion about this post