Sebastian Vettel became the first Formula One driver to sample the full Sochi Autodrom circuit in Russia. © Sochi Autodrom
The Red Bull Racing driver travelled straight to Sochi from Spa-Francorchamps after finishing fifth in Sunday’s 2014 Formula 1 Shell Belgian Grand Prix.
After a tour of the venue’s facilities, the four-time world champion completed a number of high speed laps of the full 5.8 km Hermann Tilke-designed circuit in an Infiniti road car.
Commenting on the experience, Vettel said: “It is great to be back in Sochi and the venue has been transformed since I was last here [April 2013] when it was really just a construction site.
"Having driven the full circuit for the first time in the Infiniti Q50 today, it’s an interesting layout with a good mix of high speed corners and technical sections.
“It’s going to be a huge challenge in a Formula One car for sure and I’m really looking forward to coming back in October.”