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Update | F1 confirms: Igora Drive replaces Sochi for Russia GP

26 June 2021 at 08:42
Last update 26 June 2021 at 23:56
  • GPblog.com

In the weekend of the Styrian Grand Prix the Russian circuit Igora Drive has announced that they will host the Russian Grand Prix from 2023 onwards. Currently the F1 drivers race in Sochi, but that will change from 2023 onwards. The deal is done and next year will be the last time we drive through the Olympic Park in Russia.

Igora Drive is a circuit 50 kilometers from St. Petersburg and was supposed to host a round in the DTM Championship last year. Hermann Tilke, who is known for designing several F1 circuits, redesigned the track in 2017 and it received the FIA Grade 1 license last year, which is required to host a Formula One Grand Prix.

Good change for F1?

Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali has already responded to the news himself, in the circuit's statement. "After an intensive collaboration with our Russian partners and a detailed study by Igora Drive, Formula 1 will race at this great circuit starting in 2023," the Italian explained.

"I am impressed by St. Petersburg and I believe that the Russian Grand Prix at Igora Drive is going to be a great event," Domenicali concluded.

Update: F1 confirms the change!

After the circuit itself already reported that Igora Drive will be the host of the Russian Grand Prix from 2023, F1 have now confirmed reports that from 2023 onwards they will travel to St. Petersburg instead of Sochi, where the drivers have been racing since 2014.