Moscow GP plans 'will not fail'

Moscow government authorities have pledged tens of millions of pounds to turn the current plans into reality. Work on the new circuit on Nagatino Island will begin on November 30, and event organisers are adamant that it will become a success.

"We have looked at why so many Grand Prix projects in Russia came to nothing more than just a couple of statements," said project leader Grigori Antioufeev. "Firstly, the wrong places were chosen, secondly there was no help from official organisations and thirdly there were no serious partners or investors."

Antioufeev said the event's inclusion on the F1 calendar wasn't dependent on whether cigarette sponsorship would be allowed or not.

"When [F1 supremo Bernie] Ecclestone was here last May, he said that the Grand Prix would happen regardless of what will happen in this area," he said.