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Sauber to announce new investors soon

Over the last week TJ13 reported that Sauber were struggling financially. This was confirmed during the week when first Nico Hulkenberg admitted he has not been paid, which Monisha Kaltenborn confirmed. She did however say they are working to resolve their financial vows and we now have three rumoured potential “investors”.

Earlier this week it was rumoured Sauber was in negotiations with Gazprom, the Russian gas giant. Yesterday Nicholas Todt was linked to the team and today we have Russian banker Boris Rotenberg being touted as the potential saviour of the Swiss team.

With the Swiss government having ruled out a bail-out of the team, even though sports minister Ueli Maurer said, “Sauber is the most important high-tech company in Switzerland.” Therefore, if rumours can be believed, the team’s future is in the hands of the Russians and with the Sochi Grand Prix scheduled for next year their driver line-up may also be about to change.

Hopefully we wont have to wait for too long. Kaltenborn said, “I will soon announce a new sponsor,” … we are waiting then.

The other Red Bull seat

When Mark Webber announced that he is hanging up his Formula 1 racing boots for WEC and Porsche he opened up what is probably the most coveted seat in Formula 1, a Adrian Newey designed Red Bull Racing car.

Spanish sports newspaper Marca’s correspondent Marco Canseco says Kimi Riakkonen is on the verge of signing a deal with Red Bull. Canseco said all  that is  “missing now is the last details of the agreement“. On Raikkonen’s official website he is quoted as saying “At Red Bull they want me, but I have other choices — so time will tell.”

This does not tie up with the messages coming out of Red Bull though. Yesterday Horner was quoted in saying that Webber’s seat is only open to either of the Torro Rosso drivers.

More poker being played here..

Now I do now I don’t

Earlier this week Bernie Ecclestone made sounds about buying the struggling Nurburgring. TJ13 readers will remember that we reported on a possible buyout of the circuit by the German automobile club ADAC.

Mr E told Die Welt newspaper, “If I do that [buy the circuit], it would mean the German Grand Prix is secure in the future“.

This was followed today by, “I thought about it and it is not practical for me“.

These comments follow after reports that Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz and Nurburgring chief Jorg Lindner is also interested in buying the circuit.  Some clever footwork form Mr E to avoid any unnecessary attention from Munich law enforcement?