Russian athletes are promoting an anti-war message after the invasion of Ukraine, including one of Vladimir Putin's most visible supporters.

Tennis and ice hockey are among the biggest sports in the country, and some of Russia's biggest stars in both have spoken out against the war that started when President Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine.

Ice hockey superstar Alex Ovechkin, one of the most prominent Russian athletes in the US thanks to a legendary NHL career, made a plea for peace while talking with reporters after practice in Philadelphia.

The Moscow native has been a vocal pro-Putin voice in the past.

In 2017, Ovechkin launched the "Putin team" he said was not related to the election the following year, but rather a show of support for his country.

He said on Friday he has family and "lots of friends in Russia and Ukraine" and hopes the attack will end soon.

"Please, no more war," Ovechkin said.

"It doesn't matter who is in the war, Russia, Ukraine, different countries. I think we live in a world that we have to live in peace."

Tennis player Andrey Rublev wrote "No war please" on a TV camera moments after reaching the final of the Dubai Championships.

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"In these moments you realise that my match is not important. It's not about my match [or] how it affects me because what's happening is much more terrible," the world number seven said in Dubai.

"You realise how important it is to have peace in the world and to respect each other no matter what and to be united.

"We should take care of our Earth and of each other."

Earlier, Daniil Medvedev spoke at the Mexico Open about waking up to news that his country had launched an invasion, coincidentally on the same day it was confirmed he would become world number one for the first time.

"Watching the news from home, waking up here in Mexico, was not easy," Medvedev said.

Rublev also won the doubles at the Marseille Open last week, playing alongside Ukrainian Denys Molchanov, which Medvedev said "was amazing, because people need to stay together".

Earlier, Formula One announced it will not go to Russia this season, saying it was "impossible" to hold the September 25 race in Sochi after the invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.

"We are watching the developments in Ukraine with sadness and shock and hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to the present situation," F1 said in a statement.

"On Thursday evening Formula One, the FIA, and the teams discussed the position of our sport, and the conclusion is … that it is impossible to hold the Russian Grand Prix in the current circumstances."

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel told a news conference he would not take part in the Russian Grand Prix if it went ahead, while world champion Max Verstappen also said racing in a country at war was "not correct".

US-owned Haas ran their car in Barcelona testing in an all-white livery, having taken off all branding representing title sponsor and Russian potash producer Uralkali.

Team principal Guenther Steiner also acknowledged that the outfit's Russian driver, Nikita Mazepin, whose father owns Uralkali, faces an uncertain future.

Earlier, European football governing body UEFA said it had moved the Champions League final from St Petersburg to Paris.

Mr Putin has attended the Russian GP in the past, even handing out the trophies on the podium.

The title sponsor of the race is the VTB Group whose VTB Bank was hit with sanctions by the United States and Britain after the invasion.

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Reuters/ABC