F1 Russian Grand Prix 2015: It’s the pits for drivers as farce takes centre stage in Sochi

The first two practice sessions for the Russian Grand Prix descended into a farce

Marshals clean up a diesel spillage on the Sochi Autodrom circuit (Getty Images)

For a seaside resort, Sochi looked about as hospitable as Clacton in mid-winter yesterday as the first two practice sessions for tomorrow’s Russian Grand Prix descended into farce.

First it was discovered that the circuit cleaning truck which had been at work overnight had an oil leak. Out came the marshals with hoses and brooms, and the first half hour was lost as they scrubbed away. Then no driver wanted to go out and act as the sacrificial track cleaner, but things eventually got quite exciting as the times began to tumble. As Force India’s Nico Hülkenberg surprisingly beat Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg to the overall honours, Lewis Hamilton narrowly avoided a spinning Felipe Massa, then had a spin of his own.

In the afternoon, pouring rain added to the gloom, and this time Massa redeemed himself by going fastest, from Sebastian Vettel and Massa’s Williams team-mate Valtteri Bottas, as only eight of the 20 drivers bothered to set lap times. Stalwarts in the stands must have wondered why they had bothered.

While the action on track might have been limited, there are plenty of things bubbling beneath the surface in F1.

Lewis Hamilton negotiates the wet conditions during F1 practice (Getty Images)

Bernie Ecclestone has recently been reinstated as a director of Formula One World Championship Limited and Formula One Management after his hiatus during his German legal dealings last year. And having this week vouchsafed the news that F1’s majority rights shareholding could be sold by December to one of three entities, he said here that each has asked him to stay on as chief executive.

Three people are interested in buying F1. They’ve been talking

&#13; <p>Bernie Ecclestone</p>&#13;

He will retain his 5.3 per cent stake whatever happens, and insisted that he is not concerned about the prospect of a European Union investigation into the financial structure of F1, which the Force India and Sauber teams allege is unfair.

“I suppose anyone who follows Formula One will know we’ve been here a million times,” he said. “There are three people interested in buying. They’ve been talking a bit and now they are lot more interested and if the shareholders want to sell, they’ll sell.”

He did not appear upset by the prospect of energy drink magnate Dietrich Mateschitz withdrawing his Red Bull and Toro Rosso teams from F1 because neither Mercedes nor Ferrari will supply them with competitive engines for 2016. Red Bull have reopened discussions with their current supplier Renault, just as they were about to split acrimoniously.

Ecclestone said: “Dietrich doesn’t have to give me a decision. He has never fallen out of love with F1. He just wants to be in a position where he can be competitive. And that’s what will happen.”

If Mateschitz were to withdraw, a penalty of $100m (£652,000) for each year of a contract that binds teams which receive historical status bonus payments will be applicable. Red Bull’s contract has five years to run, so he would face a half-billion dollar get-out payment.