The Italian team has chosen to bring out its friendlier side, away from racing, to support as much as possible a Ukraine that is currently being invaded by Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
The events that occur on planet earth beyond Formula 1 often tend to influence the premier category of motorsports to a greater or lesser extent, in one way or another.
The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has been no less: after Guenther Steiner stated that they were going to stay out before the war broke out as it was a political issue, a whole succession of events has led Haas to get rid of both from Uralkali, the team’s main sponsor, and from Nikita Mazepin.
On the other side of the scale is Ferrari. With no apparent connection to Russia other than its agreement with Kasperskya computer security company based in Moscow, the Italians have launched to contribute an important sum of money to the affected Ukrainian people: 1 million euros.
These funds will be channeled through the Emilia Romagna region, home of the Grand Prix that will run until 2025 in Imola, in collaboration with the Red Cross and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In this way, international humanitarian projects in support of Ukraine will be financed, as well as local initiatives focused on the reception of refugees in the Italian region.
“Ferrari is at the side of all the people in Ukraine affected by this humanitarian crisis”
“Ferrari stands by all the people in Ukraine affected by this ongoing humanitarian crisis,” said Benedetto Vigna, CEO of Ferrari. “Even though we hope for a speedy return to dialogue and a peaceful solution, we cannot remain indifferent to the suffering of all those affected. Our thoughts and support are with them; We are contributing our small grain of sand together with the institutions that are providing immediate relief to this situation.
In turn, this capital will go to the Chernobyl Association of Maranello. The most remarkable thing, leaving aside the economic issue, is that Ferrari has made the decision to suspend the production of vehicles for the Russian market until further notice, committing itself to continue monitoring the situation closely, extolling its respect for the rules, the regulations and penalties.
A little more than 10 days before the 2022 Formula 1 season begins after the tests that will take place in Bahrain just a week before, the ‘Great Circus’ has not yet found an official substitute for a definitively canceled Russian GP, He quotes that he would start the triplet together with Singapore and Japan and that, at least for the moment, he is without a replacement.