Russian Grand Prix promoter Rosgonki is to seek legal action against Formula 1 after their contract was terminated.
With the 2022 race in Sochi already cancelled in the wake of the Ukraine invasion, F1 went further by cancelling their deal with Rosgonki meaning no Grand Prix will be held in Russia in the foreseeable future.
Now CEO Alexey Titov is considering his next steps having been "shocked" by the termination.
“I can’t speak of the details yet, because we are still continuing the proceedings and it would not be correct to disclose the details now,” he told Match TV.
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“I can only say that initially the agreement was that we would terminate the contract due to force majeure but then it all turned into a unilateral termination.
“They considered that there is a risk of default on our part. This was one of the reasons why the contract was terminated.
“In any case, all further legal steps require additional analysis. This is not an easy job, but we will carry it out.
“Now there is absolutely no point in talking about some intermediate results. We will work to put an end to this matter correctly since in our understanding it is now not quite correct.”
Rosgonki is understood to have paid one of the highest fees for a race on the F1 calendar, with a figure of over $50m per year reported.
And Titov wants a refund of fees already paid to F1 commercial rights holder Liberty Media for the 2022 race.
“We’re talking about refunds because this year’s Grand Prix fee has been partially paid,” he added. “Formula 1 has to refund it whether they like it or not.”
A permanent space has opened on the #F1 calendar, which circuit would you like to see fill it?#Formula1 #RussianGP pic.twitter.com/1pmxxDXP4k
— InsideRacing.com (@INSIDERACINGcom) March 3, 2022
More broadly, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to Haas splitting with driver Nikita Mazepin and title sponsor Uralkali as national federations ban drivers from Russia and Belarus from competing.
The FIA has opted for a different approach, insisting drivers can still race but only under a neutral flag and with significant other restrictions on colours, symbols and comments on social media.
Titov though criticised this response feeling it was against what sport should stand for.
“My personal opinion is that this is illegal and violates the basic principles prescribed in the charters of absolutely any federation,” he explained.
“We can take any document of any sports organisation and see that one of the first points will necessarily say that ‘sport is without politics’ and any discriminatory actions are strictly prohibited.
“If you look at what is being done with our athletes now, it causes a very strange reaction in me. I do not want to speak based on emotions, but they are being forced to sign papers that are literally saturated with political slogans although what is happening has nothing to do with sports.
“Racers are not only forced to renounce their own flag, nationality, license, but also to recognise someone else’s position.
“I believe that here it is necessary to get together with our Ministry of Sports, the federation and defend interests in an international court. We are discriminated against and excluded from sports, just because we are Russians.”
