London:Russian Prime Minister Valdimir Putin had a taste of Formula One racing on Sunday when he tried
his driving skills on a yellow Renault, reaching a speed of almost 150 miles per hour. Putin has added Formula One racing to the macho pursuits he has showcased
on a long list of action man activities, reports The Telegraph. He took the controls
of a bright yellow Renault Formula One car over the weekend, test-driving the
car for several hours at speeds of up to 150 miles per hour. The 58-year-old politician
wore a patriotic helmet emblazoned with the Russian flag and the national emblem
of the double-headed-eagle. Putin said that the cramped cockpit of the Formula
One car was more uncomfortable than that of an old Soviet-era car he used to drive.
"My old Zaporozhets had more space," he said through his visor as he squeezed
into the tiny cockpit, referring to a Soviet car not known for its creature comforts.
Unusually speaking English, Putin said he thought he had driven well. "For a first
time, it was good," he said. At one point, however, he was shown temporarily losing
control of the powerful car and skidding to a halt. The outing, on a track near
Putin's native St. Petersburg, was also in line with past motorised stunts. His
latest display of machismo comes hot on the heels of a long road trip across Russia's
Far East in a Lada. The stunt ensures that his profile remains high as speculation
grows that he will run for a third term as president in 2012. It also draws attention
to the fact that Russia will host its first F1 race in 2014.
