A quick visit from reigning F1 champion Sebastian Vettel earned Russia’s prospective F1 circuit with a thumbs up for the Red Bull driver.

A tour around the circuit in an Infiniti road car despite heavy rain left the German with an excellent impression of the circuit.

“It’s my first time in Russia and I’m already looking forward to coming back next year,” said Vettel. “The facilities here look incredible. I didn’t see much of the circuit, but the drawing looks interesting. Some corners look very quick, especially the 180-degree one. It could be quite challenging for the drivers. Now you need some imagination to see how the circuit will look after construction work will be finished. But this place is incredible – with the city, the sea and mountains around it.”

At 5.8 km in length the circuit is expected to draw 100 000 spectators to its gates in 2014. “Our target is to bring pleasure and positive emotions for all spectators as well as use our tourist infrastructure during the low-season in the middle of autumn,” said Krasnodar Kray’s vice-governor Nikolay Buturlakin.