Russian circuit almost ready

Despite recent calls for the event to be cancelled following the loss of 298 people on board the Malaysia Airlines plane believed to have been shot down by pro-Russian separatist rebels over Ukraine last month, plans for the race continue to go ahead.

On Friday, the final layer of asphalt was applied to the Sochi Autodrom track that winds its way around the main site of the winter Olympics Games venue, undertaken by 50 workers operating 15 specialised machines.

With cars due to be hitting the track now just 10 weeks' away, FIA race director and safety delegate Charlie Whiting said: "I think, it's going to be a spectacular race.

"The track itself is going to be really fast, and the drivers will love it, I'm sure of that."