F1 Stars Support Moscow GP

Formula One legend Alain Prost and McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton have come out in support of a Moscow Grand Prix.

Russia will host its first ever Formula One Grand Prix in the southern resort town of Sochi in 2014, however there’s fresh calls for a Moscow race too.

Hamilton and his McLaren team were in Moscow this weekend at the new raceway just outside the capital and endorsed such a race, while Prost also said F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone would like it to happen too.

“I know that Bernie and some constructors would love it,” Prost told RIA Novosti.

Among them was McLaren and Hamilton, who said he supported a Singapore-style night GP in Moscow.

“I think Moscow has an opportunity, I hope, in the future to put on a street race,” Hamilton said.

“I’ve seen some images of Moscow at night and it looks absolutely spectacular, so I think having a night race here one day as we do in Singapore would be one of the highlights of our season. I hope that you guys welcome us.”

There are several street races on the GP circuit including Melbourne, Montreal as well as the new Abu Dhabi, Valencia and Singapore circuits.

“A street circuit around a city is the most exciting thing. You see the lights, you see the architecture; you get to see so many incredible things when you’re racing,” Hamilton added.

Meanwhile, Prost said positive strides being made into regions like Russia was only good for F1.

“These countries like Russia, maybe other east countries, they were always big fans of Formula One. So they look at Formula One as something that they cannot touch,” he said.

“I think a race of this standard, a track of this standard, which is almost a Formula One standard, it’s quite important because at least they are touching the dream.

“Also, I don’t know what’s going to happen in two years with Sochi, but at least they can build also their culture of automobile sport. Slowly, they are closer to what we get … It’s going to be a tool, you know. This country, for the constructors, especially Renault, it is a big target. It is important to have this in place.”