FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Sirotkin confirms talks for Force India test seat

Sergey Sirotkin has admitted he is in talks with Force India.

When the Silverstone based team sat out the recent Jerez test, we reported that it was because money promised by the Russian teen's backers did not arrive.

According to the rumour, once it was clear the team's 2015 car was delayed, Force India vowed only to test at Jerez if a 'pay-driver' could afford to fund the running of its 2014 car.

"According to our sources," Turun Sanomat correspondent Luis Vasconcelos said at the time, "the Jerez plans collapsed when Sergey Sirotkin's promised sponsorship money did not arrive."

Sirotkin rose to prominence in F1 when he was the key to a so-called 'Russian rescue deal' at struggling Sauber.

His Sauber hopes now appear over, and he has signed up with a GP2 team for 2015.

But according to the Russian publication Sportbox, Sirotkin is still in talks with Force India about a test seat.

"Yes," he confirmed, "we have been and we still are negotiating. We hope that sooner or later we will arrive at a result.

"But as long as the documents are not signed, unfortunately it is not (done)," said Sirotkin.

"When will the situation be clarified? Of course there are hopes, but we are talking about some difficult terms. We are making every effort to conclude this agreement," he added.

(GMM)