Oops! Why was F1 fan Putin left off guest list?
VLADIMIR PUTIN is due to be guest of honour at tomorrow’s Russian Grand Prix, despite Formula One’s new owners inexplicably withdrawing several passes from race organisers, including one for the Russian president himself.
Sportsmail understands the accreditation problem has been smoothed over hurriedly, with Liberty Media belatedly granting every request made by the local authorities. A warm welcome now awaits Putin, a diplomatic incident just averted. It is unclear why the passes were ever withheld. Whatever the reason, it is ironic seeing how Liberty, the American conglomerate who recently took over from Bernie Ecclestone, came in with a promise to throw open the paddock gates to greater numbers. Just four races into their regime, they seem to have modified their much-trumpeted, if rash, policy. The pass fiasco is even more ironic given that Putin would hardly need a lanyard and plastic badge to walk into the Sochi Autodrom he built at an estimated cost of £150million. He pays some £40m a year to stage the race on a long-term deal struck with Ecclestone, a friend and associate of a decade or more. Ecclestone and the race organisers both declined to make any comment about Putin’s accreditation, while a Liberty spokesman said ‘all passes requested by the authorities have been issued’.
Sportsmail understands that Formula One chief executive Chase Carey, who declined the opportunity to clarify the situation, is happy to meet Putin at the track tomorrow despite the West’s sanctions against Russia. The choreography will be interesting given that Ecclestone, now F1’s chairman emeritus, is also here and has traditionally been pictured sitting next to the president as they watched the race from the stands. Will Carey or Ecclestone be given top billing this year? Heightened safety measures are in place after 16 people died in the St Petersburg metro bombing this month. Everyone entering the Autodrom will be scanned, while extra security personnel are protecting the transport routes in. Sebastian Vettel was quickest in practice yesterday, with Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen being next fastest. Mercedes pair Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton were third and fourth. Mercedes are struggling with their rear tyres and their 100-per-cent success rate in Russia is under threat. Hamilton said: ‘It was a bit of a difficult day for us. Ferrari seemed very, very fast on the long runs.’