Monisha Kaltenborn has admitted she recently met with Vitaly Petrov. It emerged on Thursday that Russian Petrov, reportedly with EUR 30 million in Gazprom sponsorship in his pocket, could return to F1 next year in the place of Sauber's intended 2014 race driver Sergey Sirotkin. Team boss Kaltenborn told the Russian website f1news.ru: "We saw Vitaly in Sochi (for a F1 demonstration) in September and, as we know, we talked. "No more than that," she insisted. However, Sauber's rhetoric about Sirotkin appears to have changed. […]

Vitaly Petrov could be set to burst back into F1 as a powerful pay-driver, it has emerged. Once racing for Renault and Caterham, the Russian's former manager, Oksana Kosachenko, claimed last week that Petrov has managed to come up with an impressive EUR 25 million in sponsorship to offer a 2014 team. Speaking to Russia's Championat, 29-year-old Petrov did not deny Kosachenko's claim. "I think Oksana always knows more about everyone, in all the projects," he said sarcastically. "There is nothing to comment on. I […]

Andy Webb, the Marussia team chief executive, insists he is not disappointed F1 rival Sauber landed the major Russian sponsor deal. Reports on Sunday indicated the value of Sauber's new Russian investment could top an incredible half a billion dollars. But, already flying Russia's flag on the grid, might Marussia - the team with the smallest budget in Formula One - have expected to secure the deal? "First of all," Webb told Russia's Championat, "I don't think the deal with Sauber is actually finalised. Some […]

The extent of Sauber's Russian rescue deal, and the emergence of future team driver Sergey Sirotkin, caught the world of Formula One by surprise. Russian F1 commentator Alexei Popov is quoted by Basler Zeitung newspaper: "I had to read the (press release) several times before I could believe it." Some of the sport's sceptics are still not sure. There are reports of links to the KGB, but in truth very little is known about the entities listed in the Sauber release. The likely debut of […]

Even without a manager or Russian sponsors, Vitaly Petrov is still determined to return to Formula One in 2014. Since losing his Caterham seat at the end of last year, 28-year-old Petrov has split with his long-time manager Oksana Kosachenko, who is now Caterham's commercial director. Petrov also admits that his own search for new Russian backing has proved frustrating. "Unfortunately only companies from the west have contacted us so far," he is quoted by Speed Week, "which is a shame, because ideally I'd like […]

Former F1 driver Vitaly Petrov has revealed he will now handle his own affairs after splitting with his manager. It emerged recently that driver manager Oksana Kosachenko has joined Petrov's former team Caterham as commercial director, in charge of acquiring new sponsors. Petrov, who raced at Renault and Caterham between 2010 and last year, had targeted a return to F1 in 2014. He told Russian website f1news.ru that his ambitions remain on track. "I will control my own future, sorting out who will work with […]

Heikki Kovalainen has emerged as a surprise contender to keep his Formula One career alive in 2013. Ousted by Caterham, the Finn is reportedly in talks with Marussia about replacing the Brazilian Luiz Razia, whose F1 debut is on the skids over delayed sponsorship payments. MTV3, the Finnish broadcaster, is citing 'several credible sources' in reporting that 31-year-old Kovalainen is in with a shout of becoming Max Chilton's teammate. Multiple other media sources are reporting the same, based on swirling rumours in the Barcelona paddock […]

Cyril Abiteboul admits Caterham's relationship with the Finn broke down towards the end of 2012, but there could still be a role for him with the team

Lewis Hamilton believes it's crazy that former team mate Heikki Kovalainen will not race in Formula One this season. Kovalainen raced alongside Hamilton in 2008-9  before moving to Lotus in 2010. However, Caterham will field Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde this year, leaving Kovalainen and Vitaly Petrov out of a drive. "Some other people that now have seats, I think that whoever gave them the seat are crazy to think that they’re better than Heikki," he said. "I think Heikki’s got great calibre, […]

Vitaly Petrov's manager admits Caterham was the Russian's "only possibility" to stay in Formula One this season. "We knew this a few days ago, about the decision of the team, which we have to respect," Oksana Kosachenko, referring to Dutchman Giedo van der Garde's deal for 2013, is quoted by R-Sport. "I wouldn't say we didn't expect it." Kosachenko said she will now look at what other options there are, such as a test driver seat for 28-year-old Petrov. "We have a few offers for […]

BMW has refused to comment on speculation Timo Glock could rescue his racing career with a seat in the German touring car series DTM. Marussia announced on Monday that, despite the 30-year-old having a "valid contract" for 2013 and apparently also 2014, it has agreed to part ways with German Glock to make room for a pay driver. "Although it is not the path I expected to be taking, I am in fact very excited about what the future holds in terms of my own […]

Caterham deserved to beat Marussia in 2012, according to Mike Gascoyne, who also hinted that a young driver will fill the final seat