MOSCOW, March 3. /TASS/. The executive management of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) Formula One has severed a contract on the organization of the F1 racing series Grands Prix on the territory of Russia, Reuters news agency reported on Thursday citing a statement from the organization.
"Formula One can confirm it has terminated its contract with the Russian Grand Prix promoter meaning Russia will not have a race in the future," the agency quoted a statement from the sport's commercial rights holder, which decides the calendar, as saying.
The F1 official website also posted a statement on Thursday saying that: "Formula 1 can confirm it has terminated its contract with the Russian Grand Prix promoter. It means that Russia will no longer have a race in the future."
Last week, the FIA F1 executive management announced a decision to cancel the 2022 F1 Grand Prix in Russia’s Sochi, scheduled for September 23-25.
The contract to include Russia in the calendar of F1 racing for the 2014-2020 period was signed in 2010 in Sochi by then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and former Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone. In early 2017, the contract to hold the F1 Russia Grand Prix was extended until 2025.
Sochi Autodrom track is the only racing circuit in Russia hosting a FIA Formula One Grand Prix. Located in Olympic Park, which hosted the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, the 5,848-meter long racing circuit in the Black Sea coastal area has already successfully hosted eight F1 Grand Prix races.
The Formula One press office announced on June 26, 2021 that the Igora Drive racing track near St. Petersburg will be the host the Russian stage of Formula One races from 2023.
In November 2020, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) issued an official license for the Igora Drive circuit, acknowledging the track as suitable for hosting Formula One races. The Igora Drive became Russia’s third auto racing track, which was officially licensed by FIA for holding Formula One races.
Sochi Autodrom racing track, which has been hosting F1 Russia Grands Prix since 2014, was the first track to receive this privilege. The Moscow Raceway circuit, a racing track outside the Russian capital, was also licensed by FIA in October 2014 for hosting F1 races.
The construction of the Igora Drive, which is located about 55 kilometers (34 miles) from St. Petersburg, began in 2016. The 4,084-kilometers racing circuit neighbors on a multi-sport complex, which offers rally cross and motor cross circuits, a karting circuit, as well as an off-road driving center.
The Igora Drive was designed by Hermann Tilke, an author of numerous FIA Grade 1 racing tracks, which host Formula 1 Grands Prix.