Russian teenager, 17, set to become youngest F1 driver in history

Russian teenager Sergey Sirotkin is adamant he will be ready to make his Formula One debut next season.

Sirotkin, 17, has caused a stir since Sauber announced last week he would be fast-tracked into F1 as part of a deal to save the team by of a trio of Russian investors, with his father Oleg behind one of the companies.

Should Sirotkin gain the necessary "superlicence" required for F1 and go on to line up on the grid for the opening grand prix of next year – almost certainly Bahrain on March 2 – he would become the youngest in the sport’s history to make his bow.

That honour currently belongs to Spain’s Jaime Alguersuari who was 19 years 125 days when he debuted in the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, yet Sirotkin would beat that mark by around 10 months.

Sirotkin’s single-seater background so far is hardly inspiring, with current team manager Igor Salaquarda, who runs ISR in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, already stating he would be unable to cope with the pressure.

Despite that, Sirotkin said: “At the moment maybe I am a little bit too young, but that doesn’t mean I cannot be ready.”

Speaking to Autosport he added: “I have more than half a year to learn, I am doing a good preparation programme, and I can be ready.

“I don’t think it is going to be a big problem.”

Sirotkin appreciates he could continue to learn his trade in lesser formulae, but the obvious lure of stepping up to F1 is too strong.

“The chance to be a Formula One driver is not something you can have every day,” added Sirotkin.

“Okay, maybe spending one more year in World Series, I could be more ready, but after one more year maybe there is no chance for me to be a Formula One driver.

“I don’t think that someone in my place could say ’No, I want to stay in World Series’.”