Pit Stop: Sochi's chance to make a huge noise as it hosts Russia's F1 race
Time will tell whether the winter Olympics venue will live up to its promise as an equally good place to hold a Formula One event
Sochi during the Olympics was an odd place. The venues were good, the people charming and the Games were great, but my goodness, it seemed a scramble to be ready. Electricians on the promenade trying to get the new lights on, grass being sprayed green and unfinished houses on the perimeter of the Olympic Park wrapped up in canvases depicting completed dwellings.
On the trip from the hotel (equally a work in progress) to the broadcast centre, you passed around the edge of the Olympic Park. There were plenty of buildings to marvel at, including the imposing stadium and the Ice Dome.
But there was one that was a bit puzzling; half built grandstands seemingly too close together overlooking a narrow, unfinished strip. There were several days of trying to work out what odd winter sport this could house before the penny finally dropped - it was the start/finish straight of the new grand prix track.
The good news for Kvyat comes as the driver merry-go-round starts to get into full swing
Then it also became clear why there were random kerbs sticking out in odd places outside the venues; it was part of the track. Standing in the winter sunshine around the buzz of the games, looking out to the Black Sea beyond, you started to see that this might well make a stunning venue for a Formula One race as well as an Olympic Games.
This weekend we get to see whether it is the spectacular spectacle Bernie Ecclestone and his Russian hosts envisaged. It certainly will be different, sweeping around venues that earlier this year were hosting ice skating, curling and ice hockey.
The moral aspect of hosting the race there has, as always with F1, been swept under the carpet. The sport does not feel it has the job of punishing Russia for its altercations with Ukraine, a situation that took hold during the Olympics in February.
Ironically the race track is only a kilometre from the Georgian border, but it is Russian controlled territory, taken in another altercation with neighbours, this time during the Beijing Olympics.
What a good bit of timing for Daniil Kvyat. The Russian arrives at his home race knowing he is a driver on the up after being promoted from Torro Rosso to its parent team, Red Bull, for next season. The good news for Kvyat comes as the driver merry-go-round starts to get into full swing. The strongest whisper recently was that Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso were about to swap.
Well, it turned out to be half right. Vettel is to go to Ferrari. The German, who lest we forget, is still the world champion, has had a tough 2014. He has struggled with the new car regulations and has had the indignity of being outraced by his young, new Australian teammate. If it is a new challenge he is looking for, Ferrari will certainly bring it. Whether it will bring a fifth world championship is less clear.
Alonso would seem to be heading to McLaren. This would be an amazing turn of events given the rancour of his previous, aborted, tenure there.
However, with Honda engines next year giving the hope that the British team will get its mojo back, there are worse places to go. The downside for many fans is that the most experienced man on the grid, Jenson Button, is likely to be forced out.
Of course, this type of gossip, which normally grips the paddock at this time of year, has been overshadowed by the terrible accident to Jules Bianchi at Suzuka. Events and luck conspired against him. Questions will be asked about the race conditions, the deployment of the safety car, and the use of the recovery vehicle. Indeed, the FIA has already launched an urgent investigation which could be finished by this weekend.
The last person to suffer a serious head injury was Felipe Massa, when he was hit in the head five years ago. He was the one before the crash in Japan "screaming" on the radio for the safety car to be brought out. He, like everyone else, will pray the Frenchman pulls through and, like him, returns to the sport.
