Sauber attracts Russian funds to secure its future

Russia is increasingly strengthening its presence in motor sports, especially with the prospect of the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi starting next season. It already has a team in F1 with Marussia and in GP2 with Russian Time. The arrival of F1 on the shores of the Black Sea next season further whets the appetite of teams to attract Russian investors.

For a stable, which had been unable to pay its suppliers for several weeks, such a revenue stream could not be ignored, and all the efforts of Peter Sauber and Monisha Kaltenborn were therefore focused on the Russian Federation. This materializes through an agreement with three different structures in the country: We are delighted to announce a partnership between the International Investment Cooperation Fund, the State Development Fund of the Northwest of the Russian Federation, and the National Institute of Aviation Technologies with Sauber Motorsport AG, which includes the promotion of Formula 1 in Russia and the joint development of high-tech solutions.

These structures are naturally close to the political power of the country, without which it is not possible to establish large-scale investments with local companies. To be convinced of this, one only needs to look at the list of partners of the International Investment Cooperation Fund, which has a representative office in Zurich. It includes Gazprombank, the banking subsidiary of the gas giant, as well as the Royal Bank of Scotland, which has offices in the country.

If the first two companies are mainly going to provide funding as sponsors, the national institute of aviation technologies is expected to be more present as a technical partner of the team: « With the national institute of aviation technologies, one of the leading scientific research institutions in Russia, Sauber F1 Team will benefit from the expertise of the best Russian scientists and engineers. The goal of this partnership is to open new perspectives and generate new revenue by commercializing jointly developed technologies. »

One can imagine that the two structures will establish technological cooperations aimed at external entities, following the model that Williams, another independent team, has implemented in recent years. However, the main relationship between the two structures is only hinted at in the team’s statement. Indeed, it includes a passage stating: « The partnership includes other activities to promote the Sochi Grand Prix in 2014 and to attract talented young Russians to motorsports. Specifically, a development program will be put in place for Russian driver Sergey Sirotkin to prepare him to be a main driver for the team in 2014. » Moreover, Sergey Sirotkin is none other than the son of Oleg Sirotkin, who leads the national aviation technologies institute! This family connection is therefore much more significant than his European title obtained in Formula Abarth during the 2011 season or his second place in the Formula Renault 3.5 race at Motorland.

This means that there is a strong chance that Nico Hülkenberg will leave Switzerland at the end of the current season. It is not the first time that the German driver has found himself in a situation of losing his seat to a driver supported by major sponsors, as was the case at the end of the 2010 season when Williams chose Pastor Maldonado over him.

Today, however, he has strong arguments to make after three seasons as a starter. Moreover, he is one of the keys to the transfer market since he is reportedly being courted by Lotus if Kimi Räikkönen leaves for Red Bull and by Ferrari if Felipe Massa does not regain sufficient form.

As for his current teammate, Esteban Gutierrez, his retention is mainly tied to the renewal of commercial agreements with his sponsors, the various companies of Carlos Slim, the world’s richest man.

These news therefore mean that the medium-term future of Sauber now seems assured. It remains to be seen if its potential new driver duo will allow it to have the on-track results necessary to remain in the heart of the pack.

With the participation of www.Racingbusiness.fr