Violence in Kiev flared up during protest in January A big question mark is still hovering above this year's inaugural hosting of the Russian Grand Prix. Earlier, Formula 1 legend and Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda dismissed suggestions the sport should boycott the Sochi event amid the escalating Crimean crisis. But last month, it emerged that the burgeoning Formula 1 career of Sauber test driver Sergey Sirotkin was suddenly in doubt, after his sponsor SMP Bank was subject to US and European sanctions. Sirotkin's backer, Boris Rotenberg, is reportedly close to Russian president Vladimir Putin, with many other Russian athletes also being affected by his frozen bank accounts. Now, a...
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