“This is for discontinued phones, just like Sochi” – Fans react as F1’s Facebook page posts old Russian Grand Prix phone cover designs

F1's Facebook page posted phone covers designed for the now canceled Russian Grand Prix

Formula 1 decided to cancel the Russian Grand Prix in 2022 and beyond after the Russian invasion of Ukraine earlier this year. Russia had been growing at a steady pace with even the plans of shifting the race from the rather underwhelming Sochi Autodrom to a brand new FIA grade 1 track, the Autodrom Igora Drive in St Petersburg in 2023. However, the war derailed the plans of the race at this new track and even led to the departure of Russian driver, Nikita Mazepin from the sport.

Formula 1 is a global sport. The pinnacle of motorsport travels across the world with the 2022 calendar having races in 21 different countries on 5 continents. The sport is watched by fans worldwide. Millions of viewers share their passion for F1, many of whom travel themselves in order to get a chance to witness the spectacle of a Formula 1 Grand Prix. The fans are what keep the sport running as they ensure the flow of revenue consistently.

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The Russian Grand Prix has given some decent drives but has failed to amaze the fans

Once people become fans of any sports team, Formula 1 or otherwise, they become attached to it, they feel a part of the team, they feel the sport to be a part of themselves. As such this brings about the desire to have possessions that further symbolize their love for the sport. That’s where the merchandise comes into play. F1 is no stranger to official merch as merchandise revenues bring in a substantial amount of money to the teams and organizers. Every Grand Prix is filled with stands for merch which is bought by the attendees.

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Fans have a laugh over the Russian Grand Prix covers

The Russian Grand Prix was set to move to Autodrom Igora Drive in 2023 and beyond

Recently a bizarre incident took place on Formula 1‘s official Facebook page, the page posted images of a set of phone covers designed for the Russian Grand Prix. The covers were in the Russian tricolour and had “F1 Sochi” printed on top of an F1 car. The phones in the picture also appear to be older iPhones and not of the current lineup. This came as a surprise after the sport’s departure from the country.

Fans on Reddit were amused. Users assumed this post to be a scheduled post but the admin messed up the time for it to be posted, most probably at a timeframe before the war. One user said, “There’s no way that’s not a canceled post that’s slipped through that phone is 4000 years old.” While another fan said, “I see admin was forced to use IE to post this last year, so it’s only come through now.” Fans also discussed the dated phones in the post. One user replied, “This is for discontinued phones, just like Sochi,” referring to the removal of Sochi from the F1 calendar.

Bizarre post by the official F1 Facebook account
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It does seem true that the post was nothing more than just a mistimed scheduled post delayed by probably over a year. Formula 1 has made its stance clear, giving no place for the Russian Grand Prix or drivers racing under the Russian flag. The Sochi Autodrom does not seem to be missed by the fans due to its underlying nature of not providing exciting racing. However, there will always be a “what if” regarding a race in Russia and that is the Autodrom Igora Drive, one can only wonder how that would have turned out to be.