Russian signs F1 deal (Update)

UPDATE (GMM) Rumors are gaining in strength that another Russian driver will be in the F1 paddock next year.

Days ago, Oksana Kosachenko – the former manager of Russia's first-ever F1 racer Vitaly Petrov – told the state-linked news agency Tass that "another Russian driver has signed a contract with a team".

"It will be a long-term contract, because the driver is still quite young. I hope that Daniil Kvyat will soon be in good company," she added.

Now, the Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko has been quoted by another Russian news agency, Interfax, as saying: "We are working on it that a second driver will be there in formula one."

He did not say the name of the driver.

12/21/15 (GMM) Another Russian could soon be represented at the pinnacle of motor racing.

That is the claim of Oksana Kosachenko, the former manager of Russia's first-ever F1 racer Vitaly Petrov.

Now, the only Russian in F1 is Red Bull's Daniil Kvyat.

Kosachenko told Tass news agency: "We have learned that another Russian driver has signed a contract with a team.

"It will be a long-term contract, because the driver is still quite young. I hope that Dani Kvyat will soon be in good company," she added.