F1 News: Sebastian Vettel “Will Not Go” To The Russian GP As War Breaks Out In Ukraine
After the news that Russia has invaded Ukraine, F1 has already released a statement regard the Russian GP. While that had little information in it, Sebastian Vettel has revealed that he “will not go” to the Russian GP.
Russia invaded Ukraine over the last day, and F1 has informed viewers that it is “monitoring the sitation”, but they are yet to give more information on what they plan to do with the Russian GP. But Vettel, who is famously known as one of the greatest F1 drivers to be involved in the sport, is also a director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association. He revealed that they’re yet to talk about the issue:
“As GPDA we haven’t spoken on the subject so I can’t speak on behalf of GPDA.
“But in my personal opinion, obviously I woke up to this morning’s news shocked. I don’t know, I think it’s horrible to see what is happening. 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 innocent people that are losing their lives, getting killed for stupid reasons. A very, very strange and mad leadership.
“I’m sure there’s something we will talk about but as I said on behalf of the GPDA we haven’t come together yet. But personally I’m so shocked and sad to see what’s going on. We will see going forward but I think my decision is already made.”
Max Verstappen has also given his perspective on what’s happening in Ukraine:
“I think when a country is at war it’s not correct to race there, that’s for sure.
“But it’s not only what I think, the whole paddock is going to decide what we’re going to do next.”
Fernando Alonso however has reminded us that the decision to race there or not is not a decision they have the power to make:
“I think it’s going to be Formula 1’s decision eventually.
“I don’t think that we drivers we have our opinion and I’m sure it is the same one as everyone. We don’t have the power to decide.
“Things like that we can make our own decision for sure but eventually I think that Formula 1 will do the best.”
Charles Leclerc also commented on this:
“The GPDA “will have to speak about it.
“But to not go too much into details because to be honest I don’t have all the information about what’s happening.
“It’s very sad to see that, especially in 2022. Then we’ll take a decision, I think Formula 1 will probably take a decision and have more info than we do. I can’t express myself any more than that, I honestly don’t have all the information about it.”