Former world champion Sebastian Vettel and other pilots will not be driving in Russia for the next few years after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Because of the war, Formula 1 has terminated the contract with the organizer of the Russian Grand Prix.

This was announced by the premier class of motorsport on Thursday.

In the previous week, only the race planned for September in Sochi was initially canceled.

"Formula 1 can confirm that it has terminated its contract with the Russian Grand Prix organiser, which means that Russia will not host a race in the future," it said in a statement.

Formula 1 has been racing in Sochi on the grounds of the Olympic Park on the Black Sea since 2014.

From next year, the race was supposed to take place in St. Petersburg - the birthplace of Vladimir Putin.

Vettel had already stressed before the Sochi race was officially canceled that he would boycott a race in Russia.

"People are killed for stupid reasons," said the Aston Martin driver, adding that Russia has a "very strange and crazy leadership."

That's why he doesn't want to drive in Russia: "I shouldn't go, I won't go." Next week in Formula 1, the final test drives in Bahrain are on the agenda, before the season starts there in the desert (20. March).