Along the way, there have been other connections between Russia and Formula One, notably when Gazprom, the state natural-gas company, signed a deal as a sponsor with the Minardi team in the summer of 2002. That had fallen through by May of 2003 with dissatisfaction on both sides, and with Minardi claiming it never received any money.

Never, however, have there been as many deals as now, and several factors indicate that the series will finally consummate its marriage with Russia. Whether it will thrive or not, is another story, and depends on many factors, according to Formula One insiders.

“In Russia the grandstand seats will not be full, I think, without a Russian driver, or without a Russian team and presence,” said Alexey Popov, who has been a Formula One commentator on Russian television since the first year the series was broadcast there, in 1992. “The first year here, yes, all the enthusiasts from all across Russia will come once to see.

“But we need a big fan base,” he said, “and to do that, we need a Russian driver, at a Russian team is even better. So it’s step by step, but for me the Russian Grand Prix has really changed the situation.”

He said that the facilities and location of the track at the Olympic site in Sochi should finally turn the tide. He said he believed that all three of the major Russian hopefuls — Petrov, Sirotkin and Daniil Kvyat, who races in GP3 — should make it to Formula One within the next three years.

“We can have three drivers easily,” he said.

“We have the money for it, and the guys are good. The problem is the support, bringing in the guys to support not only the football teams but motor sport, too, I hope.”

Oksana Kossatchenko, Petrov’s former manager, who runs a sports marketing company in Russia, said that although Russia was rich in sponsors she felt that the companies still had no idea how much Formula One could bring them and that there should be more coordination between them.