Sauber have signed up with Russian entities for promoting Formula 1 in the country, including an agreement where the Swiss team will prepare 17-year-old Russian driver Sergey Sirotkin for its 2014 season.
Sauber Monday announced a partnership with the Investment Cooperation International Fund, the State Fund of Development of North-West Russian Federation and the National Institute of Aviation Technologies, "incorporating the promotion of the Formula 1 in Russia and jointly developing high-technological solutions".
"The objective of the partnership is to open up new perspectives and revenue streams by commercialising jointly developed technologies," said a Sauber statement.
Russia will host its first Grand Prix in Sochi next year and efforts are on to put a Russian on the grid.
"A development programme will be set up for the Sergey Sirotkin to prepare him as a racing driver for the team in 2014," the statement added, implying that Sirotkin would be one of the Sauber drivers next year.
Sirotkin is currently competing in the Formula Renault 3.5 series where he is lying eighth in the standings.