Whilst sporting bodies continue to try and find the best response to the conflict in Ukraine, some individual athletes are speaking out on their own, with Sebastian Vettel confirming that he will not race in Russia.
Vettel spoke of his shock at the overnight developments, as well as urging Formula 1 to take the Russian GP off the calendar.
“In my personal opinion, obviously I woke up again after this morning’s news, shocked, I think it’s horrible to see what is happening,” Vettel explained in an interview at winter testing in Barcelona.
“Obviously, if you look at the calendar, we have a race scheduled in Russia.
“For myself, my own opinion is I should not go, I will not go, I think it’s wrong to race in that country, 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.”
Formula 1 have still yet to make a decision on what will happen to the Sochi Grand Prix that is planned for September 25, merely suggesting they were monitoring the situation.
“F1 is closely following developments around the Russian GP, as it is at other events, and at this time we have nothing to comment on the race scheduled for September,” an F1 statement read.
Russia does have a presence within the sport, with Nikita Mazepin, a Haas driver, being a Russian national, whilst the Haas team is also chiefly sponsored by Uralkali, a Russian fertiliser company.
The team announced on Thursday evening that their livery will be blank white for Friday morning, with all Russian colours and Uralkali logos being removed.
