Sutil Doesn't Have a Contract for 2011 - Manager

Adrian Sutil is yet to sign a deal for the 2011 season of Formula One. The information was made public by the German driver's manager Manfred Zimmerman, who told the media during the latest Abu Dhabi test that his client will likely sign a “fundamental deal” for the future in the upcoming two or three weeks.

Until recently, Sutil has been linked with a move to Renault, where he would partner Polish driver Robert Kubica. However, the latest developments on the Vitaly Petrov story have revealed that the Russian driver is close to securing an extension to his current deal. More, his manager Oksana Kosachenko said she will be seeking to secure her client a 2-year contract.

Under the circumstances, Sutil's place at Force India becomes the most hunted by many drivers who are yet to finalize discussions for a 2011 seat. His countrymen Nick Heidfeld and Nico Hulkneberg have both been linked to a drive with Vijay Mallya's team, alongside the squad's current reserve, highly-ranked Scottish racer Paul di Resta.

“Once a contract is signed, we will announce it,” said Zimmerman, according to a report from Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. “This should happen within the next two to three weeks.”

Last week, shortly after the season ended, Mallya told the media that there is a spot open in his team for the 2011 season. Surely he was referring to Sutil, as Vitantonio Liuzzi trumpeted throughout the second half of the recently ended season that he has deal with Force India that extends through to the end of 2011.

According to the latest reports on Nico Hulkenberg's situation, it seems that his manager Willi Weber has started taking into account the possibility of his client spending a full year as a reserve for Mercedes GP, before seeking a more advantageous contract for 2012.