Sauber: Sergey Sirotkin has his wheel for 2014

Several media announced it in concert with which he did not confirm it a little later: Sergey Sirotkin signed a contract with Sauber for 2014! “I am a Sauber driver in Formula 1 for 2014 ! Thank you all for your congratulations”, declared the young man on VKontake, a very popular social network in his country. Comments reported by the Ria Novosti, the official Russian international news agency.

The nature of the contract and its duration have not yet been clarified. Is it a reservist position or, more plausibly, a regular role? In the second case, Sirotkin, who will celebrate his 18th birthday this Tuesday, August 27, will first have to obtain a Super License, a mandatory requirement issued by the FIA ​​to participate in an official Formula 1 session.

This announcement is anything but a surprise, the arrival of the young Russian in the Swiss team being a sine qua non condition for the establishment of an agreement, announced mid-July, between Monisha Kaltenborn?s stable, which is going through a major financial crisis, and Russian investment funds ready to inject several hundred million euros into the business. It was also announced at the beginning of the week that Sergey Sirotkin went to Hinwil to meet his future team and mold a tub. The driver, currently engaged in Formula Renault 3.5, will compete for the first time in his career against the Sauber and an F1 on September 27, during an exhibition run in Sochi. The very place where the first Russian Grand Prix in history is to be held next year. Quite a symbol.