Sergey Sirotkin signed up by Sauber for 2014

Sergey Sirotkin, Formula Renault 3.5 series

Russian race driver Sergey Sirotkin, who races in the Formula Renault 3.5 series, has been signed by the Sauber F1 team as their full time race driver for 2014, according to reports coming from the Belgian Grand Prix paddock.

The young racer made heads turn when it was rumoured that he will be driving for Sauber at the tender age of 18.

This contract is closely related to the Russian funding that the Swiss-based team is receiving in order to remain in the sport and pay their suppliers.

Germany’s Der Spiegel was the first to report from Belgium that the Sauber team have signed Sirotkin under a contract for next year. The report said that the news was confirmed by Team boss Monisha Kaltenborn. The team are yet to make a decision on who will partner the Russian next year.

The Russian driver will perform a demonstration run for the team in September after undergoing a seat fitting test at the Factory last week.

On Friday, the young Russian confirmed reports by writing on the Russian Social Networking website Vkontakte: “I’m a Sauber driver in Formula )ne for 2014. Thank you all for your congratulations.”

The team has scored seven points this season, all scored by Nico Hulkenburg with his rookie teammate Esteban Gutierrez failing to score a point.