Oct.28 (GMM) Vitaly Petrov believes Formula 1 could eventually return to Russia, four years after the championship cut ties following the invasion of Ukraine.
“Could Formula 1 return? Of course, it’s possible,” he said.
“Sooner or later. I think it’s possible,” the former F1 driver and current Russian Automobile Federation vice-president told TASS.
Russia hosted Formula 1 at Sochi from 2014 until 2021, but the 2022 race was cancelled after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Formula 1 subsequently terminated its contract with the promoter.
Before that rupture, the Russian GP was actually preparing for a new era.
F1 had announced that the race would move from Sochi to the purpose-built Igora Drive circuit near St Petersburg from 2023, with Stefano Domenicali publicly praising the venue after it received FIA Grade 1 approval.
Any return remains a long way from reality, because the FIA’s ban on international competitions taking place in Russia or Belarus is still in force.
However, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has recently overseen a significant easing of the other restrictions introduced in 2022.
Russian and Belarusian drivers, competitors and officials are now again permitted to compete internationally without neutral status, and can use their national flags, colours and anthems.