LONDON, (Reuters) – Russian teenager Sergey Sirotkin could become Formula One’s youngest ever driver next season as part of a financial lifeline keeping the Swiss Sauber team in the sport.
Cash-strapped Sauber announced yesterday a partnership with three Russian entities, including the National Institute of Aviation Technologies which is headed by the 17-year-old driver’s father Oleg.
The other two are the Investment Cooperation International Fund and the State Fund of Development of the North-West Russian Federation.
Sauber said in a statement that a development programme would be set up for Sirotkin “to prepare him as a racing driver for the team in 2014”.
If that plan comes to fruition – and it depends on the granting of a super-licence and him being deemed ready to take the step – Sirotkin would be far younger than Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari was when he made his race debut in 2009 aged 19 years and 125 days.
