I don't think Sochi has much to do with it. One of the comanies backing Sauber is the State Fund of Development of North-West Russian Federation, which is centred on Moscow and St. Petersburg. Then there's the National Institute of Aviation Technologies, which is a major aerospace engineering contractor (coincidentally, Sergey Sirotkin's father is an engineer and maanger for them, but he doesn't seem to be a decision-maker). And finally, the Investment Cooperation International Fund, which is designed to lure foreign direct investment into Russia. This has got the Russian government's fingerprints all over it.
Also, I see no evidence that Sauber will dump Hulkenberg for Sirotkin and keep Gutierrez. Depending on the level of investment from Russia, the Mexican money keeping Gutierrez in the team may not be necessary to keep them afloat. And I've heard that the Slims want to change their sponsor portfolio and just back McLaren and Sergio Perez, rather than dividing their attention between teams and drivers.
This was too good.
