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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.

'Macho man' Putin zooms in Formula One racecar