Given the fragile state of political relationships between Russia and the West, there are some question marks hanging over Russia’s first-ever Formula One Grand Prix race, set for October 12, 2014. Notwithstanding the looming sanctions, the officials went ahead and launched a full-fat promo campaign for the GP’s venue, the brand-new Sochi circuit.

They brought four-time Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel and former F1 hotshot David Coulthard to drive the nearly finished circuit ahead of the inaugural Grand Prix. After a tour of the venue’s facilities, they completed a number of high-speed laps of the full Grand Prix circuit in an Infiniti Q50 Hybrid.

Vettel becomes the first professional F1 driver to sample the Sochi circuit and he’s quite impressed by it. This was his second visit to the venue. The first time he drove the dirt version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88b7VqEeisc

Sebastian Vettel said: “It is great to be back in Sochi, and the venue has been transformed since I was last here 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.”