#35 SERGEY SIROTKIN
In 2018, Sergey Sirotkin becomes the third Russian driver to compete in Formula One. Lining up as one of two rookies on the grid, the former GP2 racer will be keen to impress in his maiden season.
| Full Name | Sergey Olegovich Sirotkin |
| Nationality | Russian |
| Age | 23 |
| Date of Birth | 27th August 1995 |
| First Race | 2018 Australian Grand Prix |
| First Win | – |
| Wins | 0 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Fastest Laps | 0 |
Sergey Sirotkin was born in Moscow in 1995. He began karting aged seven, and won his first championship by the age of eleven. By 2010, the Russian was making his single seater début in the last three rounds of the Formula Abarth series. He became champion of the European Series of Formula Abarth in 2011, and was runner-up in the Italian Series in the same year. Then in 2012, he juggled Italian Formula Three, Formula Renault 3.5 and Auto GP World Series, doing best in the latter where he finished third in the championship with two wins. Despite a lacklustre year in Formula Renault 3.5 in 2013, Sirotkin had caught the eye of the Sauber F1 Team, and he was signed up as their test driver for 2014. Talks of a drive with the team were much discussed in the media, but the deal never materialised. He continued in Formula Renault 3.5 for another season, winning a race and finishing fifth overall, despite having a far from reliable car.
After some practice running with the team in 2014, Sirotkin left his role with Sauber in 2015 and instead focussed on his next racing series – GP2. With the Rapax team, he finished third in the title hunt – the best placed rookie – and scored his maiden victory at Silverstone, a track which he had no previous experience on. Another year in the series followed, and he took a further two wins on his way to third overall once again. Sirotkin returned to the series – now called Formula Two – for just one round in 2017, replacing the injured Alexander Albon at the Azerbaijan round of the championship. He finished a respectable tenth and fourth in the two races.
His racing commitments were few in 2017, though he did compete in his début 24 Hours of Le Mans, in the LMP2 class. He also made four Formula One outings during Friday practice with the Renault team, who had signed him up as their reserve driver in 2016.
Sergey Sirotkin now follows in the footsteps of compatriots Vitaly Petrov and Daniil Kvyat, becoming the third Russian driver to compete at the pinnacle of motorsport. He’ll drive for Williams in 2018, having impressed the team at a post-season test in 2017. His place is in part due to the money he can bring to the team, but Sirotkin’s career in the junior formulae proves that he is deserving of the seat.
SERGEY SIROTKIN’S F1 RECORD
| Year | Team | Place | Wins | Poles | Podiums |
| 2018 | Williams |