Russian gov’t no longer backing Petrov - manager

Vitaly Petrov’s manager has admitted the Russian driver’s F1 career is hanging in the balance.

Oksana Kosachenko, who has managed the 27-year-old’s career at Renault and Caterham since 2010, told Russian news agency Ria Novosti that the government has pulled its financial backing.

The R-Sport website said Petrov has lost the government-linked sponsors Russian Helicopters and Lada.

"We have now lost government support," Kosachenko is quoted as saying.

"There’s never been interest from sponsors. I’ve always said that it’s impossible to find sponsors in Russia for a project like formula one.

"When there was support at the top level of government, this project worked commendably.

"I don’t rule out a scenario in which we have to end this Russian driver’s competition in formula one," she added.