RUSSIAN GRAND PRIX OFF AFTER F1 SUMMIT

Formula One bosses have cancelled the Russian Grand Prix.

The race in Sochi was due to take place on September 25, but it has now been scrapped following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

F1’s announcement arrived two hours after Uefa confirmed this season’s Champions League final will be moved from St Petersburg to Paris.

F1 acted after CEO Stefano Domenicali chaired a crisis summit with its governing body, the FIA, and the sport’s team bosses.

It is unclear at this stage if the race will be replaced, but Turkey’s Istanbul Park has been mooted as a contender to fill the now vacant slot on the calendar.

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel earlier said he would boycott the Russian race and described Vladimir Putin’s regime as “mad”.

Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton finished fastest on the final day of opening pre-season test at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.

The seven-time world champion ended the afternoon running just 0.095 seconds ahead of new team-mate George Russell as Mercedes completed a one-two.

Sergio Perez finished third, one place ahead of Red Bull teammate and defending world champion Max Verstappen, who was six tenths off Hamilton’s pace.

Lap times in testing have to be treated with caution as the teams tinker with different fuel loads and engine modes.

However, Hamilton, bidding to avenge last season’s contentious title defeat to Verstappen, will take comfort in finishing top of the order.

“It has been an interesting few days,” said Hamilton, who managed 94 laps.

“It has not been the easiest or smoothest running and we have definitely got some obstacles to overcome, but I completed almost 100 laps, which in half a day is not too bad.”

There will be three further days of testing in Bahrain before the season-opening race in the Gulf Kingdom on March 20.