Government Official Dmitry Kozak Says Russian F1 Grand Prix Will Go Ahead

A senior government official in Moscow insisted that the inaugural Russian Grand Prix "will go ahead despite warnings from Nato that a ceasefire with the Ukraine has not held," according to Kevin Eason of the LONDON TIMES. With just three weeks to the first grand prix on Russian soil, F1 "is wondering whether it will be caught up in another political skirmish."

The sport "was ridiculed" in '12 when the Bahrain Grand Prix "went ahead against a background of pro-democracy protests," and preparations for this race are taking place as NATO’s top commander said that "a truce between Russia and the Ukraine exists 'in name only.'" Russian Deputy PM Dmitry Kozak said that "western sanctions will not affect sporting events in the country and that the FIA, F1’s governing body, has given an assurance that the race is safe."

Kozak: "The sanctions will not affect the racing. Sport is outside politics and this principle must be observed." Security "will mirror the lockdown used during the Olympics so that teams and drivers will be safe, but there are still fears about the truce between Russia and the Ukraine" London Times