According to reports the Russian bid to host a Grand Prix in 2014 is starting to gain momentum. It was mentioned earlier in the year that Bernie Ecclestone was keep to add Russia to the Formula One calendar.

Deputy regional development minister Yuri Reilyan has now been quoted by business newspaper Vedomosti as saying that construction in Sochi will begin as soon as Ecclestone can “guarantee that the race will definitely take place, and the circuit will not be abandoned in the future”.

“He [Ecclestone] suggests holding the first grand prix in autumn 2014,” Reilyan added.

Bernie Ecclestone reckons Campos Meta and USF1 could miss the opening three races of this year’s Championship, only joining the F1 grid in time for the Chinese GP.

Campos and USF1 are two of the four newcomers to Formula One this season but unlike the other two, their preparations have not been making headlines. Rather, they have been making headlines in terms of financial woes.

The F1 supremo told the Express newspaper: “I think we won’t see Campos and I don’t think we will see the Americans.”

And should either team miss the opening stint of the Championship, Ecclestone revealed they won’t face a financial penalty as his terms allow all teams to miss up to three races.

Ecclestone also took the time to once again give his support to Stefan GP. Although the team does not have a place on the 2010 they are preparing in the hope that one of the newcomers will pull out before the season starts.

“They have got the money from the Serbian government, I’ve spoken to the prime minister,” he said.

Bernie Ecclestone has come out and stated that he believes there will be only 24 cars on the grid when the new season kicks off in Bahrain in the middle of March.

Nine of the 10 teams who raced in 2009, two of them under a new guise, plus four new teams – Lotus F1 Racing, Campos Meta 1, USF1 and Virgin Racing – have been handed slots for next year’s World Championship.

According to The Times, Eccelstone is convinced that Campos F1 and USF1 will not make it for 2010. However, I think that USF1 will be there! Mainly because they cant afford not to be.