Lada name joins F1

The Lada name will have a presence in Formula One this season after it agreed to sponsor the Renault F1 team.

Renault owns a 25 per cent stake in Lada’s parent firm AvtoVaz, a Russian car maker with state involvement, and the sponsorship deal is designed to boost F1’s presence in the country. The deal has been endorsed by Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin after Renault F1 officials met with AvtoVaz in Moscow earlier this week.

See pics of the Renault F1 team in pre-season testing

Renault has already signed Russian Vitaly Petrov to race for the team this year and the sport has long been tipped to hold a grand prix again in Moscow.

"We are proud to announce this new agreement, which marks another important step for the Renault F1 team and Formula 1 in Russia," said Renault F1 boss Gerard Lopez.

"We have been actively investing in Russia over the last years. We know the country well, we have a high degree of appreciation for it and, as such, it is an honour for our F1 team to spearhead Russia's entry into the sport and to carry the Lada brand at the highest level of world motorsport.

“We look forward to an exciting and successful season together."

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