Sirotkin, 20, took third in the 2015 overall standings with Rapax, picking up a maiden win in the feature race at Silverstone.

The Russian was expected to announce his 2016 plans shortly after the GP2 post-season tests at Yas Marina but, as confirmed by SMP Racing director Dmitry Samorukov, the talks over Sirotkin's upcoming season are still ongoing.

Samorukov stated that Sirotkin and ART had negotiated a "framework contract", but were still sorting out exact details.

In 2015, ART Grand Prix fielded Nobuharu Matsushita and the imperious Stoffel Vandoorne on its way to its first teams' title since 2009.

Matsushita is widely expected to remain with the team in 2016.