FORMULA ONE’S decision to cancel the Russian Grand Prix will hopefully spell the end of Vladimir Putin’s pathetic vanity project.
The race – due to be held in September in Sochi, the venue for the 2014 Winter Olympics – was ditched following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian GP in Sochi was dropped as F1 responded to Putin invading Ukraine
It is the swiftness with which F1 acted to dump the race from its calendar that should have the despot concerned, for the sport no longer needs him or his grubby roubles.
Putin has always used sport as a way to reaffirm his position as Russia’s leader.
The Winter Olympics and the 2018 World Cup – high-profile events, somehow procured but used to show the world he means business.
But his deal with F1 was something more personal.
It was a deal very publicly brokered with ex-F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and one that was meant to show commitment until 2025 and also to involve Putin’s home city St Petersburg.
But with Ecclestone no longer in control, the Russian GP has turned out to be nothing short of an embarrassment.
Ecclestone convinced Russia to pay $50million (£37.3m) a year – at the time of the first race in 2014, it was more than any other venue on the F1 calendar.
In fact, only oil-rich Saudi Arabia and Qatar currently stump up more than the bill Russia gets handed each year.
And, despite the huge sum, it is widely regarded as the worst on the calendar – for so many reasons.
Sochi itself is Russia’s largest resort city, optimistically dubbed as the “Russian Riviera” – it sits by the Black Sea but has disappointing beaches and, well, not much else.
The horribly dreary track is like racing around a giant car park and the rarely used theme park that sits behind the circuit is known in Formula One circles as “DismalLand”.
Back in that debut season, Putin attended the race and made the podium presentations – never one to miss his opportunity, he subsequently has stood on it a few more times.
In 2014, the sanctions imposed on Russia for invading Ukraine to annex the Crimean Peninsula were already beginning to bite.
I remember an Italian restaurant running out of pasta and pizza bases while it took another two and a half hours to knock up a burger and chips.
Attendances are always underwhelming and, without any Russian driver of any skill, there was never much interest in the sport in the country.
In 2023, the plan is to move the Russian GP to the newly constructed Igora Drive circuit outside St Petersburg that has cost north of £200m to construct and giving Putin his dream.
Lewis Hamilton met Vladimir Putin when he won the 2018 Russian GP and also triumphed last time out at Sochi in 2021
But unlike in 2014 when Ecclestone was organising the sale of F1, the sport’s American owners, Liberty Media, no longer need Russia’s £50m – or the headaches that come with it.
This year, despite ongoing travel restrictions, F1 has no problem putting together a record-breaking 23-race calendar.
F1 say there are no issues with legalities with the Russian promoter and that crucially there are no shortages of venues willing to fill the gap.
Qatar is likeliest but Portugal, Turkey, and potential second races for Abu Dhabi, Bahrain or Saudi Arabia are all options.
Add into the mix extra races in Las Vegas and Germany in 2023, plus China’s return, there is very little need to go back to Russia ever again, which would be welcomed by everyone in F1.
FIA WAR SUMMIT
THE FIA will hold “an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council” today to discuss the crisis in Ukraine.
It comes after F1’s governing body was put under increased pressure to boot out Haas’ Russian driver Nikita Mazepin.
The FIA have been urged to stop all drivers competing with a Russian racing licence.
Haas could replace him with Pietro Fittipaldi, grandson of two-time Formula One world champ Emerson Fittipaldi.
But engine suppliers Ferrari want Italian Antonio Giovinazzi.
MOTO GP BOOST
MOTOGP chiefs hope their new fly-on-the-wall TV series gives the championship a boost – just like F1’s own Netflix effect.
The season begins this weekend in Qatar and MotoGP have a deal with Amazon Prime to show eight 50-minute episodes, launching on March 14.
The only problem is season four of F1’s Drive to Survive starts three days earlier.
MAX EX IS ELECTRIC
MAX VERSTAPPEN‘S ex, Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky, is leading the electric offroad series, Extreme E.
Sweden’s Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky is worth a plug after her outstanding start to the electric offroad series, Extreme E
The Swedish driver, 29, dated the Formula One champion for nine months when he drove for Toro Rosso – but the pair split up when he joined Red Bull in 2016.
Ahlin-Kottulinsky drives for Nico Rosberg’s RXR Extreme E team and holds the record of five podium finishes.
DOOR OPEN FOR HASLAM’S WSBK RETURN
LEON HASLAM, son of legendary Rocket Ron, could yet return to WorldSBK – that is despite choosing to race in the 2022 British Superbike Championship.
The 38-year-old Brit, who won the BSB title in 2018, is in advanced talks to make possible wildcard appearances for the Pedercini Kawasaki team.
