Given his posturing on the world stage, one could be mistaken for thinking Vladimir Putin isn't too personable.

But the Russian President managed to make himself a new friend at the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Sochi.

After first being doused in champagne by British winner Lewis Hamilton, he proceeded to take a series of selfies with a Russian model.

Model and Miss Russia finalist Violetta Igoshina poses for a selfie with Putin at the Formula 1 race in Sochi

In a second photograph posted online, the pair are joined by another model also working the event

Ms Igoshina, 21, studies law at university and was a finalist in the Miss Russia competition

The selfies were taken at the Formula 1 race in Sochi that was won by Briton Lewis Hamilton - pictured here accidentally spraying Putin with victory champagne

Ms Igoshina said she was so nervous taking the selfies that she thought she might drop her cellphone

Violetta Igoshina, 21, a finalist in the Miss Russia beauty contest, posted photographs of herself with Putin on social media, gushing: 'My best friend, Vladimir Putin.'

The pictures were taken in Sochi after Hamilton accidentally soaked the Russian leader's suit jacket in victory champagne while on the winner's podium.

As he was leaving the party in his shirt sleeves, Ms Igoshina, who is studying law at university, plucked up the courage to ask him for a picture.

Ignoring his security guards telling her to keep her distance, she approached the president who duly obliged.

She revealed afterwards she was so nervous that her hands were shaking.

'I thought my phone would fall on the ground,' she said. 'It was amazing. Now I personally know our president.

Vladimir Putin pictured today during a visit to the construction site of Vostochny Cosmodrome, a Russian spaceport

The president toured the facility as a guest of Igor Komarov (left), the head of the Federal Space Agency

Putin has chided officials for a four month delay in the construction of the sprawling space port

'I came here to work, but now I made friends with the president. That is much better.'

The pair smiled at each other when he had entered the room earlier and she was determined to fulfill her childhood dream of meeting him, and going one stage further and having her picture taken with him.