F1 terminates contract with Russia after Ukraine invasion

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F1 terminates contract with Russia after Ukraine invasion

Published Thursday, March 3, 2022 7:42AM EST Last Updated Thursday, March 3, 2022 8:16AM EST

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during a Formula One pre-season testing session at the Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, just outside of Barcelona, Spain on Feb. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

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LONDON -- Formula One has terminated its contract with the Russian Grand Prix following the country鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine, saying Thursday that Russia 鈥渨ill not have a race鈥� in the future.

F1 already cancelled this year's race, which had been scheduled to be held in Sochi on Sept. 25. But following further discussions this week, F1 went a step further and ended a contract which ran until 2025.

鈥淔ormula 1 can confirm it has terminated its contract with the Russian Grand Prix,鈥� F1 said in a statement. 鈥淩ussia will not have a race in the future.鈥�

Four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel and several other drivers said last week they would not have raced in Russia even if F1 had decided to go there.