MOSCOW, August 23 (R-Sport) - Russia's 17-year-old racing driver Sergei Sirotkin on Friday confirmed reports he has signed a deal with Sauber to drive for the Formula One team next season.
Sirotkin is yet to acquire a superlicense to enter auto sport’s most prestigious series next year - to coincide with the first Russian Grand Prix in Sochi - but the considerable financial backing of his father may yet see him on the grid come March.
"I'm a Sauber driver in Formula One for 2014! Thank you all for your congratulations," Sirotkin wrote in a message on Russia's top social network VKontakte.
In June Sauber announcement a tie-up with Sirotkin that sees him get a drive at some point in the future.
Der Spiegel reported earlier Friday that Sirotkin signed a contract with team bosses ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. The length and terms of the contract were not disclosed.
It is unclear if he will get a drive with the team or act as a test driver.
Sirotkin is to put a Sauber car through its paces at a September 27 demo show in Sochi, where he is to appear alongside Russia's first F1 pilot Vitaly Petrov. Petrov is also hunting a drive for next season but currently lacks a sponsor.
Clarified headline at 17:00
