AUGUST 22, 2015

Sochi chiefs in contract talks with Ecclestone

Russia is pushing to secure its long term future on the F1 calendar.

The Sochi race's current contract runs until 2020, but there has been constant speculation about the future of the deal, fuelled by political instability as well as financial concerns.

Russian sources on Saturday report that Alexander Saurin, vice governor of the Krasnodar region, and Sochi race promoter Sergei Vorobyov, are at Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday for talks with Bernie Ecclestone.

"We discussed a contract extension," said Saurin, "but it is at the level of discussions.

"The difficult economic situation? Of course we consider it, and I must say that we are being heard. I want to say thankyou to Bernie, as he always hears Russia," he added.

(GMM)