Whiting confirms that Sochi has passed FIA inspection

Charlie Whiting led an FIA inspection of the Sochi Autodrom yesterday, and the F1 race director has said that all is well with the venue and thus the Russian GP is firmly on schedule.

“The circuit is in extremely good condition and – yes – it will be issued with a licence,” he said in a Sochi news release. “Everything has been done according to the plans – the kerbs are very good, the verges, the guardrails, the walls – everything is in an extremely good condition. Everything has been done to the highest standards and I’m extremely pleased. I can say without hesitation that the circuit is ready 60 days in advance, which is very rare really.”

Regarding race control he said: “Well, it’s state of the art, it’s very good, and I was very impressed when I walked in to the Race Control building. It really does look extremely impressive. Fundamentally, all Race Control buildings are the same, but in this particular case it’s been done with very latest high-tech equipment. The images we see at race control are absolutely superb.”

Whiting said that he probably wouldn’t need to make another visit before October’s race.

“I don’t know at the moment, but it should not be necessary. What I’ve seen today gives me complete comfort that the circuit will be entirely ready when I come back for the Grand Prix.”

Meanwhile promoter Sergey Vorobyev said: “We were ready for Mr Whiting’s visit and we want to congratulate our builders who have made this positive verdict happen. We were confident that FIA would appreciate the efforts made by our team to implement the technical details that have been so highly reviewed by Mr Whiting today.

“Now that Sochi Autodrom has received a licence, everything else is up to the organizers of the events and as such we are working intensely on ensuring that all aspects of the event are fully prepared. It is our aim to make this a truly unforgettable event with the comfort and enjoyment of our guests at the forefront of all our efforts.”