Russian Grand Prix while FIFA Torn Apart For 'shameful response'

F1 has been praised for swiftly cancelling the Russian Grand Prix as Conservative MP Damian Green compares it to FIFA's "shameful response" to the invasion of Ukraine.

Russian F1 driver Nikita Mazepin could face a ban from racing as the sport deliberates further measures in response to the invasion of Ukraine. The president of the Automobile Federation of Ukraine, Leonid Kostyuchenk, has demanded the FIA bans all Russian and Belarusian drivers from competing outside of their own countries. An FIA spokesperson told the PA News agency: “An extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council will be convened tomorrow to discuss matters relating to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. “Further updates will be given following the meeting.”

F1 announced last week that the Russian Grand Prix, set to take place in September, has been cancelled.

Haas also removed the branding of its partner Uralkali during testing in Barcelona – the company is owned partly by oligarch Dmitry Mazepin, whose son Nikita races for the team.

Guenther Steiner, the team boss for Haas, said he could not guarantee Mazepin's future with the team.

Conservative MP Damian Green, a member of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, tells Express.co.uk that F1's swift action contrasts with FIFA's shameful response.

He made the comments after FIFA announced Russia could play matches under the name 'Russian Football Union’ and at a neutral venue, Since the comments were made, FIFA has announced that Russia will now be banned from the World Cup after pressure from FAs in Poland, Sweden, Czech Republic and England.

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Mr Green told Express.co.uk FIFA's initial punishment was "feeble", while praising F1.

He said: "I think that is unbelievably feeble and taking the example of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that allows Russia, despite all of the doping scandals, to participate in games as long as they are called the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).

"It's exactly the same cop out that the IOC went for. I think it's just unacceptable in the current climate.

“I hope other countries follow the example of the English FA and, more importantly, the Polish FA in saying we won't play them.

"That essentially dares FIFA to say 'ok we will award games to Russia'. That would mean the World Cup wouldn't be played. I would very much hope that other countries that have qualified wouldn't participate in a World Cup with Russia."

Replacing Russian Grand Prix ‘no problem at all’, F1 confirm

The head of Formula One is confident a replacement race will be found for the cancelled Russian Grand Prix.

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has said it will be “no problem at all” to fill the gap left by the Sochi event and maintain the record-breaking 23-race schedule.

Russian Grand Prix was cancelled following the country’s invasion of Ukraine with the race being “impossible to hold in the current circumstances”.

It leaves a gap in the schedule in between the Italian Grand Prix on 11 September and the Singapore Grand Prix on 2 October. The Russian Grand Prix was originally set to take place on 25 September.

F1 had to replace several races across the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Domenicali the sport would be prepared to stage another race elsewhere, even at short notice.

“Talking specifically about the situation this year, because of the Russian situation, I just can confirm to you that we have already proven in the last couple of years to be very flexible and not to have any problem in finding possible solutions to that,” Domenicali told reporters.

“So I can just confirm that could be an option for this year with no problem at all.”

Turkey has been suggested as a possible replacement for the Russian Grand Prix while Portugal and Imola also held rescheduled races at short notice last season.

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McLaren star Lando Norris and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz's comments questioned by Ted Kravitz

MCLAREN AND Ferrari both impressed during F1 pre-season testing in Barcelona last week, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz jnr have been accused of 'downplaying' their performances during pre-season testing in Barcelona last week. Both McLaren and Ferrari impressed with their pace in Spain, rivalling Mercedes over the three days on the track and also out-performing Red Bull.

This F1 season promises to be an intriguing one, given the introduction of new technical regulations that has meant every team having to make drastic adaptions to their cars.

The new restrictions have been designed to make racing more competitive, raising the prospect that the dominance enjoyed by Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton last year, with the pair winning 18 of 22 Grand Prix races between them, will be severely challenged.

Indeed, Spaniard Sainz has already talked up his own chances of competing for the title, warning both drivers their advantage of driving superior cars will be diluted.

Norris meanwhile, has underlined his and McLaren's world championship ambitions by signing a lucrative new deal that ties him to the British team until the end of 2025.

This F1 season promises to be an intriguing one, given the introduction of new technical regulations that has meant every team having to make drastic adaptions to their cars.

The new restrictions have been designed to make racing more competitive, raising the prospect that the dominance enjoyed by Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton last year, with the pair winning 18 of 22 Grand Prix races between them, will be severely challenged.

Indeed, Spaniard Sainz has already talked up his own chances of competing for the title, warning both drivers their advantage of driving superior cars will be diluted.

Norris meanwhile, has underlined his and McLaren's world championship ambitions by signing a lucrative new deal that ties him to the British team until the end of 2025.

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"Undoubtedly McLaren and Ferrari," he replied.

"After Day One it just felt like both of those cars could do decent lap times at a moment's notice and more significant was Mercedes' surprise at how quick McLaren and Ferrari were, and they've got all the GPS data to know that.

"Both teams tried to downplay their improvements through the week but sometimes you can't slow a good car down.

"The way Carlos Sainz spoke about the Ferrari car and the way Lando Norris tried to downplay McLaren's, tells me they're both looking really good."

Mercedes told 'easiest solution' to Lewis Hamilton and George Russell car troubles

LEWIS HAMILTON and George Russell both encountered problems in pre-season testing. Sky Sports F1 expert Ted Kravitz has told of Mercedes' "easiest solution" to solve the issues they were having with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell's cars during pre-season testing in Barcelona.

Many teams encountered trouble with their cars porpoising - which means they are bobbling up and down while being driven in a straight line.

Changes to regulations this year has forced manufacturers into making huge changes to their 2022 vehicles, which has caused some teething problems.

Russell complained that the porpoising issue could be a "safety concern" if not fixed before the first race in Bahrain. Kravitz has come up with a quick-fix - but it could have a detrimental effect on Hamilton's title charge.

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