(CNN) -- It's not only global tycoons and car manufacturers that are greasing the wheels of Formula One -- countries are doing it too. Traditionally governments have invested in F1 by stumping up cash to stage races but now they are cutting deals with drivers and teams. The Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA funds Pastor Maldonado's drive for Williams. This summer Sauber announced a partnership deal involving three backers with close links to the Russian state that will see the Swiss team fast track teenager Sergey Sirotkin into a race seat in time for the inaugural Russian Grand Prix in 2014.
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Formula One is attracting state funding form nations such as Venezuela and Russia
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Pastor Maldonado says being sponsored by Venezuelan money is "a huge responsibility"
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The Williams driver was personally encouraged into F1 by late president Hugo Chavez
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Maldonado has set up a foundation to fund next Venezuelan F1 driver
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