The Russian Grand Prix will be relocated from Sochi to a new, purpose-built track outside of St. Petersburg from 2023, Formula 1 announced on Saturday.
The race has been held in the Sochi Olympic Park since 2014, the year the Black Sea resort hosted the Winter Olympics, but will take place on the new Igora Drive 54 km from St.
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“We look forward to driving in an extremely exciting location that includes 10 professional racing and test tracks on approximately 100 hectares,” Formula 1 said in a statement.
Igora Drive is about 150 km from the Finnish border and should be more accessible to Russian and international fans alike than Sochi. Finland has produced three F1 champions but has never hosted a championship race.
The new route was designed by the German architect Hermann Tilke and received a grade one license in 2020.
The track would have hosted a round of the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) as well as the all-female W-Series last year, but these races were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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“I am impressed by St. Petersburg and I believe that the Russian Grand Prix on Igora Drive will be an incredible event,” said Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali.
This year’s race in Sochi, which had a contract until 2025, is scheduled for September 26th.
Master Mercedes has won all seven Russian Grand Prix so far, with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton triumphing four times.
St. Petersburg is the birthplace of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who regularly takes part in the race in Sochi to present the trophy.
Formula 1, whose commercial rights belong to the US American Liberty Media, has openly spoken out in favor of organizing more races in or near “target cities”.
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