Sirotkin's F1 future up to sponsors

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16:22, 18 Jan 2019

Ex-Williams driver Sergey Sirotkin's Formula One future is very much dependent on his sponsors. The Russian was replaced at Williams by Robert Kubica and will not be on the grid in 2019 but hopes a return in the future is a possibility.

Although enduring a difficult season with Williams with a struggling and poorly developed FW41, Sirotkin did have an opportunity to race with Williams but ultimately his backers SMP Racing decided against funding a bid for the opportunity, allowing Kubica to take his place.

Mikhail Aleshin of Russia's SMP Bank admitted that the decision came after a refusal to fund further backing to give to Williams who the company perceived as a "weak team".

"The decision, naturally, will be made by the management of SMP Racing. Objectively, Sergey has great potential, but it is clear that it cannot be realised if you go with a weak team.

"Before the start of the season, no one thought Williams would be so bad. When that became clear, Sergey's only task was to stay ahead of his teammate.

"It was not easy for him, considering that his teammate had more experience. Nevertheless, he coped and proved that he would be able to do well with a good team."

Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	171
2	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	131
3	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	125
4	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	80
5	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	79
6	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	79
7	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	73
8	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	42
9	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	41
10	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	30
11	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	18
12	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	16
13	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	14
14	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	6
15	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	5
16	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	3
17	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	2
18	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	1
19	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	0
20	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
21	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0
22	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0

Sirotkin's F1 future up to sponsors

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