Deals appear to secure Swiss team's long-term future - and also pave way for teenager's F1 debut?
Friday 21 March 2014 11:39, UK
Sauber have announced partnerships with three Russian institutions in a move that appears to have secured their long-term future.
Sauber have found the going difficult both on and off the track this season: placed eighth in the Constructors' Championship, they have also been struggling to pay suppliers. Founder and owner Peter Sauber has sold up once before, to BMW in 2005, and refused to rule out the prospect again. Indeed, there had already been links with Russia: Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was named as a possible owner as was Boris Rotenberg, who owns SMP bank along with brother Arkady. Speaking after the recent German GP, Team Principal Monisha Kaltenborn told Autosport: "We have very openly said that this is a difficult time for us, but we are doing all we can to come out of this situation. "I am confident that we will soon be out of this situation and that is all there is to say about it."
