Formula 1 is testing in Barcelona this week as teams get to grips with their new machines. But after yesterday’s fairly uneventful day, , overnight. And now, with clouds of doubt surrounding this year’s Russian Grand Prix in Sochi, has said he will boycott the event if it takes place.

The was speaking during a press conference in Barcelona. , Vettel was asked about the future of the Russian Grand Prix and said “my own opinion is I should not go, I will not go.”

The four time world champion, who is also a director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association, said he was “shocked” to see the news that Russia had invaded Ukraine.

Overnight, to undertake “special military operations.” The move was quickly condemned around the world, with US president Joe Biden saying that “the world will hold Russia accountable.”

Countries are taking steps to impose sanctions on Russian businesses, banks and high net worth individuals. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has also stripped the Russian city of St Petersburg of its right to host the Champions League Final and .

Now, eyes are on F1 to see how it will respond to the situation.

In today’s press conference in Barcelona, Vettel said: “I think it’s wrong to race in that country. I’m sorry for the people, innocent people who are losing their lives, getting killed for stupid reasons under a very strange and mad leadership.”

His strong words were echoed by , who said that “when a country is at war, it is not right to race there.”

Of course, both drivers are right about this. Formula 1 should not race in Russia in 2022.

But of course, . But it did, just eight months after Russian troops occupied the peninsula.

Now, with a on the calendar, a on the grid and in teams up and down the paddock, F1 needs to make its stance clear. The sport cannot continue claiming that “we race as one” when it will gladly wash over atrocities being committed by a global super power.

So far, the sport’s governing body has said it will “continue to monitor the situation very closely.”

An F1 statement read: “F1 is closely watching the very fluid developments like many others and at this time has no further comment on the race scheduled for September.”

As I find myself thinking a lot these days: F1, please do better.