The Russian Grand Prix was run twice in Saint Petersburg, first in 1913 and then 1914. The 1913 race was won by Russian driver Georgy Suvorin in a Benz (2:23:54.6), followed by Ivan Ivanov in a Russo-Balt and René Nothombe in a Métallurgique. The 1914 event was won by German Willy Scholl, also in a Benz (1:48:32.2), with Stepan Ovsyannikov (Vauxhall) and Eugenio Beria d'Argentine (Aquila Italiana) completing the top three. Following the outbreak of the First World War and the Russian Civil War, the Russian Grand Prix was abandoned and was not resumed after the establishment of the Soviet Union.
Plans for a Grand Prix in Russia emerged in the early 1980s with a proposed "Grand Prix of the Soviet Union" in Moscow for the 1983 season. While included on a provisional calendar for 21 August 1983, bureaucratic barriers prevented the race from being held. Bernie Ecclestone continued to seek a race behind the Iron Curtain, though Hungary eventually became the first communist country to host a race in 1986. In 2010, it was announced that Sochi would host a new event beginning in 2014 under a seven-year deal. The Sochi Autodrom was designed as a 5.9 km street circuit passing around the venues of the 2014 Winter Olympics.
The inaugural Formula One event on 12 October 2014 was won by Lewis Hamilton, followed by Nico Rosberg and Valtteri Bottas. This one-two finish secured Mercedes' first constructors' title. In 2015, Hamilton won again after pole-sitter Nico Rosberg retired with a faulty throttle. Sebastian Vettel finished second, and Sergio Pérez took third after a final-lap collision between Kimi Räikkönen and Valtteri Bottas. Mercedes secured their second consecutive constructors' championship at this event.
The 2016 race saw Nico Rosberg win as Lewis Hamilton finished second. The start was marked by a crash at turn 2 involving Nico Hülkenberg, Esteban Gutiérrez, and Rio Haryanto, while Daniil Kvyat hit Sebastian Vettel twice, causing Vettel to crash out. In 2017, Valtteri Bottas secured his first career Formula One win by 0.7 seconds over Sebastian Vettel. The 2018 race was held on 30 September, moving to the slot previously held by the Malaysian Grand Prix; Bottas took pole position at the circuit where he had earned his first win. In 2019, Charles Leclerc started on pole, but Sebastian Vettel took the lead until suffering an MGU-K failure on lap 26. A lap later, on lap 27, George Russell crashed into the barriers at Turn 9, which the Williams team attributed to a wheel nut failure. Following the safety car, Lewis Hamilton took the victory ahead of Bottas and Leclerc.
On 24 February 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Formula One suspended the contract for the Grand Prix, stating it was impossible to hold under the circumstances. The 2022 race was officially cancelled on 1 March 2022. Although a contract had been signed in 2021 to move the event to the Igora Drive circuit near Saint Petersburg starting in 2023—which was to be extended from 4.086 km to 5.182 km and 19 turns—Formula One terminated the contract for all future races on 3 March 2022.
Repeat Winners (Drivers)
Lewis Hamilton: 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021
Valtteri Bottas: 2017, 2020
Repeat Winners (Constructors)
Mercedes: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Benz: 1913, 1914
Repeat Winners (Engine Manufacturers)
Mercedes: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Benz: 1913, 1914