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Bianchi crash and politics overshadow build-up to Russian GP

Bianchi crash and politics overshadow build-up to Russian GP

  • Published on 09 Oct 2014 12:15
  • comments 1
  • By: Rob Veenstra
F1 has made the 8,000 kilometre trek from Suzuka to the all-new Sochi Autodrom, but many are not in the mood to celebrate the sport's latest destination. That is not just because the Russian grand prix is controversial in the shadow of the Ukraine conflict, with president Vladimir Putin slated to attend.

The German broadcaster RTL said it has resisted calls to boycott the race. "For us as a broadcaster, the question of a boycott does not arise because we are obliged contractually," a spokesman told the German newspaper Welt. "We will, however, raise the issues in the presentation and also ask those at the track how they feel about the situation."

Bernie Ecclestone has argued consistently that F1's first visit to Russia should not be mixed with the country's political situation. Former world champion Mika Hakkinen agrees. "On the political side, I would not like to take a position," he said in his latest interview for sponsor Hermes. "When I think of formula one and motor sport, we should evaluate it positively in my opinion that we are finally racing in Russia -- a new country and a new market," said Hakkinen.

Richard Cregan, the former Abu Dhabi race boss who now oversees the organisation in Sochi, admitted that the political questions had been affecting ticket sales for the inaugural grand prix until mere weeks ago. "There was lots of discussions about sanctions and all these things and then suddenly, when all that seemed to be in the past in relation to our race, then we were selling between 500-800 tickets a day," he told Reuters.

Cregan also admitted that Jules Bianchi's crash has overshadowed the build-up to Russia's first race, "and rightly so". "We just have to make sure we never stop looking for improved safety measures. We're trying to learn from everything," he is quoted by the Telegraph. (GMM)
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Replies (1)

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  • BtwnDitches

    Posts: 204

    No doubt large blocks of tickets have been anonymously bought up by Putin and rich appratchiki for donation to sports clubs, labor groups, and friendly foreign embassies with subsidized transport and lodgings thrown in for ticket recipients, all to fill the Sochi stands and avoid showing the real impact of the EU/USA boycott over Ukraine, and save face for Putin.

    • + 0
    • Oct 9 2014 - 20:23

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Formula 1 Calendar - 2021

Date
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Bahrain
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
16 - Apr 18
Italy
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Portugal
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Hungary
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Belgium
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Netherlands
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Italy
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Sochi Autodrom
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Singapore
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Japan
Circuit Suzuka
22 - Oct 24
United States of America
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29 - Oct 31
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2021

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
26 - Mar 28
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
16 - Apr 18
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
30 - May 2
Portugal Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
7 - May 9
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
21 - May 23
Monaco Monte Carlo
4 - Jun 6
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
11 - Jun 13
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
25 - Jun 27
France Paul Ricard
2 - Jul 4
Austria Red Bull Ring
16 - Jul 18
United Kingdom Silverstone
30 - Aug 1
Hungary Hungaroring
27 - Aug 29
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
3 - Sep 5
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
10 - Sep 12
Italy Monza
24 - Sep 26
Russian Sochi Autodrom
1 - Oct 3
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
8 - Oct 10
Japan Circuit Suzuka
22 - Oct 24
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
29 - Oct 31
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
5 - Nov 7
Brazil Interlagos
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Australia Albert Park
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