Breaking news
Formula 1
'Not a cent' in Sauber's pockets yet - report
The world was caught by surprise with Sauber news but some of the sport's sceptics are still not sure
GMM
Edited: Jul 17, 2013, 9:01 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Jul.17 (GMM) The extent of Sauber's Russian rescue deal, and the emergence of future team driver Sergey Sirotkin, caught the world of Formula One by surprise.
Russian F1 commentator Alexei Popov is quoted by Basler Zeitung newspaper: "I had to read the (press release) several times before I could believe it."
Some of the sport's sceptics are still not sure.
There are reports of links to the KGB, but in truth very little is known about the entities listed in the Sauber release.
The likely debut of a 17-year-old Russian driver next year is also highly unusual.
Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber C32
Photo by: XPB Images
"First of all I want to wish Sergey (Sirotkin) and his associates good luck," said Oksana Kosachenko, the former manager of ex-F1 driver Vitaly Petrov.
"But so far, he is not a Formula One driver. This is about certain arrangements which, undoubtedly, will be implemented."
Germany's Bild newspaper, however, claims that "not a cent" has yet flowed from Russia to Hinwil.
But a team boss who has worked with Sirotkin and his Russian partners before, Andreas Jenzer, told the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper that his dealings were all positive.
"When I first came into contact with his Russian supporters in 2008, I also had a little bit of concern initially.
"But I've never had a bad experience in all of the years," Jenzer said.
It seems that much will depend on whether Sirotkin makes his race debut next year, based on a series of track tests that could include appearances on Friday mornings in 2013.
But German broadcaster Christian Danner warned: "Unfortunately he is light years from the levels of a current Formula One driver."
Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko knows more about the pecking order in Sirotkin's current race series, Formula Renault 3.5.
"Sergey is currently in the midfield, and he has struck me as not bad. Better than (2013 Sauber driver Esteban) Gutierrez.
"But he will have to show what he can do under pressure."
A major hurdle for Sirotkin will be getting his mandatory FIA super license, as Marko insisted: "You can't just get your sponsors to buy it for you!"
Some suspect the Russian deal was one done out of desperation by the financially-dying Sauber.
A Swiss supplier to the struggling F1 team told Aargauer Zeitung newspaper that his company has not been paid a cent by Sauber since December of last year.
A Swiss media source told us: "Unfortunately, Sauber has to play the game (with the Russians), but it's better than shutting up shop."
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber C32
Photo by: XPB Images
Speed Week also thinks the Russian deal is a good one, because it's "only a matter of time before normal sponsorships flow from Russia, with Gazprom in pole position".
Bernie Ecclestone, meanwhile, hailed the Sauber deal, and also Tuesday's news that the backmarker Marussia has inked a long-term engine deal with Ferrari.
"I'm glad that Sauber and Marussia are continuing," the F1 chief executive told Blick newspaper.
"But how serious the situation really was with these teams, I don't know."
Ecclestone added that Russian president Vladimir Putin is supportive of the Sauber deal.
"I was with him in Moscow three times," said the 82-year-old. "He is very enthusiastic and helpful, which will benefit the whole of F1."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article 'Stupid' to turn down Formula One due to young age - Sirotkin
Next article Rookie disappointed Alonso sitting out Silverstone
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
GMM
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Formula 1
Formula 1
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Formula 1
Formula 1
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
More from
Sergey Sirotkin
Sirotkin to stay as Renault F1 reserve in 2020
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sirotkin to stay as Renault F1 reserve in 2020
Sirotkin replaces stranded Lundgaard for F2 testing
FIA F2
FIA F2
Sirotkin replaces stranded Lundgaard for F2 testing
Sirotkin: F1 exit more painful now than before
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sirotkin: F1 exit more painful now than before
More from
Ferrari
The mistakes that cost Lewis Hamilton a podium at F1’s US GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
13 h
The mistakes that cost Lewis Hamilton a podium at F1’s US GP
Fred Vasseur reveals two costly moments that denied Ferrari US GP double podium
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Fred Vasseur reveals two costly moments that denied Ferrari US GP double podium
Latest news
NASCAR warned nearly the full field at Talladega for minimum speed violations
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
2 h
NASCAR warned nearly the full field at Talladega for minimum speed violations
Carson Hocevar credits tow truck driver for saving his race at Talladega
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
6 h
Carson Hocevar credits tow truck driver for saving his race at Talladega
Brad Keselowski to address questions about NASCAR future and RFK exit at Martinsville
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
7 h
Brad Keselowski to address questions about NASCAR future and RFK exit at Martinsville
Hamlin says Chevy teams 'suck at the teat' of Hendrick on superspeedways
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
10 h
Hamlin says Chevy teams 'suck at the teat' of Hendrick on superspeedways
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe