Max Verstappen joins Sebastian Vettel in calls to strip Russia of Grand Prix

'When a country is at war, it is not right to race there'

Formula One champion Max Verstappen has joined Sebastian Vettel in raising his concerns about competing in the Russian Grand Prix following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In the early hours of Thursday morning, Russian president Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with attacks coming from the land, earth and air across the southern, northern and eastern fronts of the country. Verstappen's comments come after the 34-year-old Vettel stated that he will not take part in the Russian Grand Prix if it remains on the calendar. As per the Daily Express, he said: "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." https://twitter.com/ChrisMedlandF1/status/1496824103747178497 The current F1 champion Verstappen followed suit by also voicing his concerns in a statement in which he said: "When a country is at war, it is not right to race there." Meanwhile, F1 officials also released a statement saying that they are "closely watching the very fluid developments and at this time has no further comment on the race."

The report adds that the page which was selling tickets for the race in Russia has disappeared from the official F1 website, and one promoting the Turkish Grand Prix has since appeared.

However, despite speculation that the race will be cancelled and replaced by one at Turkey's Istanbul Park, F1 said that it was a 'development issue' with the website and "nothing deliberate." 

Related links:

• Man Utd’s Russian airline sponsorship banned from UK as part of new sanctions
• Brazilian footballers stranded in Ukraine beg government to evacuate them
• Sebastian Vettel says he won’t race in Russia after invasion of Ukraine