Luis Vasconcelos, an experienced correspondent writing for Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat, now claims a young driver from Russia is at the centre of the Silverstone based team's absence from the Jerez test.

"According to our sources," he claimed, "the Jerez plans collapsed when Sergey Sirotkin's promised sponsorship money did not arrive."

19-year-old Sirotkin was once part of the so-called 'Russian rescue deal' at Sauber, another struggling midfield team.

"The contract with Sauber was annulled and Sirotkin was to become this year's reserve driver at Force India, including participation in the winter tests and seven Friday morning practice sessions.

"When the money did not come in time, Force India withdrew entirely from Jerez," Vasconcelos added in his report.