Gazprom denies plans to become F1 sponsor
Russian natural gas giant Gazprom has denied reports that it is poised to re-enter Formula 1 as a sponsor.
It was reported this week that Gazprom, a former Minardi sponsor last decade, was poised to back either Renault or Toro Rosso to the tune of EUR 35 million beginning next year.
Russian driver Daniil Kvyat races for Toro Rosso, which will be renamed Alpha Tauri in 2020, and Renault's reserve is another Russian, Sergey Sirotkin.
"In that news (report), it is written simultaneously that we may become and plan to become (a F1 sponsor)," Gazprom spokesperson Sergey Kupryanov told the Tass news agency.
"Of course, all of us can become (a sponsor). But plan to become? No, we don't plan to become," he added.
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There has been some talk of one or two more teams joining the grid. It would not surprise me if one of them turned out to be "Russian." To that extent Gazprom returning as a sponsor may be a harbinger to the team itself.
Great way for oligarchs to get involved and launder money. I love it. We need a couple more independents to offset the OEM bailout when the economy turns.
In theory yes, but in the overall scheme of things, I think, it's more of a decoy, a smoke screen. Budgets of most midfield teams are well under $200 million - petty cash by oligarchs' standards.
Prestige that comes, or would come, with a team facade is probably more valuable to Russia as a country. I suspect that Sochi circuit is a money losing proposition, but Russians give no indication of pulling out. They value Mr. Ecclestone's lauding Putin, no matter how controversial that may be in the West.
There is no such a thing as bad publicity. "The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about."
There you go, making intelligent comments. Sheesh...have you no shame? LOL