As Sebastian Vettel drinks in his unprecedented success, two of his German countrymen are hoping simply for a place on the 2012 grid.

Adrian Sutil has been with Force India since the Silverstone based team’s Spyker days, but speculation is mounting that Vijay Mallya is planning to pair Paul di Resta with Nico Hulkenberg next year.

“I still have no contract (for 2012),” the German newsmagazine Focus quotes the 28-year-old as saying this week.

“For sure we’ll have a meeting soon,” Sutil, referring to his boss Mallya, told the BBC last weekend at Suzuka. “I’ll ask his opinion about next year and hopefully he’ll give me a sign.”

Mallya said he will not make a decision until December, but Sutil said the end of the year “is a little late because normally all the other seats are taken”.

Already absent from the grid in 2011 is Nick Heidfeld, who recently lost his Renault race seat to Bruno Senna.

Reports have linked the veteran of 183 grands prix with a BMW reunion in the German touring car series for 2012.

“I am in contact with the DTM teams,” the 34-year-old confirmed, “but my focus at the moment stays in formula one.”

Giedo van der Garde has won a long legal battle with Force India.

The Dutch driver had pressed for a $2 million refund because, when the team was known as Spyker in 2007, he did only 2270 of the 6000 kilometres of testing that he was contractually promised.

Media reports reveal that a court has agreed that Force India must pay van der Garde $1.865 million.

Fascinatingly, van der Garde’s manager Jeroen Schothorst said the ruling could help in his talks with Force India about a race seat in 2011.

“A few years ago this topic was a disadvantage, now it could be beneficial to us,” he said.

Narain Karthikeyan has emerged as a contender to race with the Force India team in 2011.

Before Karun Chandhok made his debut in 2010, 33-year-old Karthikeyan was India’s first grand prix driver, contesting the full 2005 season with Jordan.

The Silverstone based team has since been re-branded as Midland, Spyker and is now Force India, headed by the Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya.

Force India’s current driver lineup is reportedly not secure for 2011, with Adrian Sutil eyeing a move to a bigger team, Vitantonio Liuzzi struggling to keep up with his German teammate, and reserve driver Paul di Resta thought likely to move into a race cockpit.

And the latest rumours from Italy, including a report in Autosprint magazine, is that Karthikeyan is a possibility for 2011.

It is suggested his sponsors have up to $8 million in total to spend on the seat, including Mumbai-based Tata Motors who are thought keen to associate with next year’s inaugural Indian grand prix.

On his visit this week to the Delhi site of next year’s race, Bernie Ecclestone said he hoped there would be an Indian driver on the grid.

“If an Indian driver is in Vijay’s team or a good team it will be superb,” he said.

Force India’s Adrian Sutil is expecting the team to be overhauled by Williams for sixth place in the world championship.

Currently, the Silverstone based team holds a two point advantage over Williams with three races to go, while Sutil is 6 points ahead of Rubens Barrichello for tenth place in the drivers’ championship.

“Rubens is getting dangerous, and the Williams car is currently a lot better than ours,” German Sutil, who is contemplating moving away from Force India at the end of the season, told Auto Motor und Sport.

He said he doubts the Mercedes-powered VJM03 will be much improved for this weekend’s Korean race.

“I do not expect our pace to be much better or worse than recently,” said Sutil, who made his debut with the team in 2007 when it was owned by Spyker.

The 27-year-old said he has not yet made a decision about whether to stay at Force India in 2011.

“Not yet. It’s harder than I thought,” said Sutil.

“It’s not just thinking about next year — you also need to look further ahead,” he added.

England’s Court of Appeal has reversed the High Court decision of last year ordering sponsors to pay millions in damages to Force India.

The Abu Dhabi companies Etihad Airways and Aldar Properties were ordered to pay $4.7m to the Silverstone based team late last year.

They agreed a three-year deal worth $20m in 2007 when the team was known as Spyker, and were found to have breached contract by switching a year later to Ferrari.

But the court of appeal this week ruled that the companies were entitled to cancel the deal.

Etihad argued that the promotion of a rival airline – Vijay Mallya’s Kingfisher – was not allowed in the contract, and Aldar argued that Mallya’s promotion of an alcohol brand was a breach.

And both companies were contractually guaranteed the status as the team’s most prominent sponsors, appeal judge Sir Bernard Rix ruled.

“In my judgment … Force India rode roughshod over all these rights and protections,” he said.

The Abu Dhabi companies will follow up their court victory with a claim for damages.

Giedo van der Garde is hoping to make his formula one race debut in 2011.

The 25-year-old Dutch GP2 driver, who has previously been under contract as a F1 test driver with the Super Aguri and Spyker teams, is in talks with several teams according to his manager.

“There are concrete offers from two teams,” manager Jan Paul ten Hoopen is quoted by Algemeen Dagblad newspaper.

“We have received one contract we could sign immediately.  But for that we need partners,” he added.

The struggling Spanish team HRT is reportedly not in the running for van der Garde’s services.

“It makes no sense to spend a lot of money on a seat if Giedo’s career will be finished for the following year.  It wouldn’t be the first time it has happened to a driver,” said ten Hoopen.

He is hoping a deal can be finalised by F1′s Abu Dhabi finale.

Former Dutch F1 driver Jos Verstappen wrote in his latest column for De Telegraaf: “I have heard he (van der Garde) has spoken with Virgin and Lotus.”

Team boss Colin Kolles has played down paddock rumours that HRT is on the verge of collapse.

The new Spanish outfit has struggled with the slowest car in 2010, and the rumour at Monza last weekend was that the Cosworth engines were set to fall silent due to unpaid bills to Cosworth.

“We discussed our budget in Italy and it was approved,” Kolles is quoted by the French language L’Equipe website.

“We still need to complete certain objectives, but there is no cause for concern,” he insisted.

“The bill for the engines has been paid for to the end of the season. I think we are in better shape than some others,” said Kolles.

“We will see who finishes the season and who does not, and we’ll see who is on the grid next season.

“I am used to these rumours. When I arrived at Midland, everyone thought we would not survive, and it was the same with Spyker and Force India, but the team is still there,” he said.

Elsewhere, the team’s technical coordinator Jacky Eeckelaert has ruled out reports of a merger with Epsilon Euskadi, and also quietened rumours that HRT is turning to Cologne-based Toyota Motorsport for a 2011 collaboration.

“That’s a delicate question to answer,” he started. “It is true there were contacts with Toyota, but I don’t think it’s going to happen for 2011.

“As for a merger with Epsilon Euskadi, I’m not aware of that,” added Eeckelaert.

Nico Rosberg is as good as Sebastian Vettel, but Adrian Sutil has been a real surprise of the season.

Those are the opinions of Gerhard Berger, given during an interview with Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

The Austrian and ten-time grand prix winner, 50, acknowledged the highly rated skills of Vettel, with whom he worked as a rookie at Toro Rosso in 2008.

“He is incredibly mature,” said Berger. “It is true he is still making mistakes, but I put that in the category of lacking experience.

“His biggest problem is that he probably underestimated Mark Webber.”

Berger’s most flattering comments are reserved for Rosberg, who has surprised many observers this year by looking more competitive than his illustrious Mercedes teammate Michael Schumacher.

“For me, Nico is on par with Vettel. He just needs the right car now to begin winning.

“He has shown this year that he makes very few mistakes, that his setup is usually right, and that he is mostly ahead of Michael Schumacher.

“If Rosberg and Vettel were sitting in identical cars, I would not know who to put my money on,” said the former McLaren and Ferrari driver.

Berger is also impressed with Sutil, who has driven for F1′s Silverstone based team – as Spyker and now Force India – since 2007.

“Last year I was laughing at him,” the veteran admitted.

“I would never have believed he has this much potential. His speed is tremendous, and his mistakes have reduced dramatically.

“For me, with Rosberg, he is the surprise of the season,” said Berger.

Less impressive, according to Berger, is Nico Hulkenberg, but he is willing to give the Williams rookie some more time to prove himself.

“He is in a learning phase,” said the Austrian. “He makes many more mistakes than Vettel and Rosberg did when they began, but Sutil was the same.

“I think Hulkenberg’s mistakes are normal for a first year. If everything goes right, he is almost at the level of Barrichello — and that’s a compliment.

“Barrichello is certainly the best man of the second league, and with his vast experience he doesn’t make mistakes,” added Berger.

Adrian Sutil has revealed he would be reluctant to switch to the Renault team for 2011.

The 27-year-old, who has raced for the same Silverstone based team – as Spyker and Force India – since 2007, has been linked with the seat currently occupied by Vitaly Petrov.

But on a trip to India, German Sutil was quoted as saying: “Force India is the best team to be with currently.”

Asked to expand, he would not rule out a move for 2011, but explained that Renault is not necessarily a better option than his current team.

“(It’s) too early to say, nobody knows what Renault is going to do,” he is quoted by the Indian PTI news agency.

“People are speculating.  We (Force India) are very similar to Renault — they are only one or two places in front of us.”

It is believed Sutil’s current contract includes an option for next season.

“At the moment, I don’t see any reason to change my team,” he said.  “To find somewhere better than Force India is difficult at the moment.

“You have to go to the absolute top teams.  Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull … all those teams have no place,” added Sutil.

HRT on Tuesday confirmed that Sakon Yamamoto has retained his race seat for the weekend’s Hungarian grand prix.

The Japanese, reportedly with $5 million in sponsorship to pay to the struggling Spanish team in 2010, raced initially in Bruno Senna’s cockpit at the recent British grand prix.

He then replaced Karun Chandhok in Germany, but the Indian rookie – whose new sponsor Japyee was on the Cosworth-powered F110 at Hockenheim – said it is possible he will be back in the car this weekend in Hungary.

But in a media statement, Hispania Racing announced its Hungaroring lineup as Yamamoto, 28, alongside Senna.

“I can’t wait to go back to the Hungaroring as I know the circuit already very well from my formula one races with Super Aguri, Spyker and with ART in the GP2 series,” said Yamamoto.

As Thursday evening fell at Silverstone, a rumour swept the paddock that Bruno Senna has been dropped by HRT.

The speculation was treated with scepticism by some, given the Brazilian rookie’s PR visit during the day to the nearby Cosworth factory.

And just three hours ago, he wrote on Twitter that he is “looking forward to the weekend at Silverstone”, and last week an official team statement quoted him as saying: “I am looking forward to the British grand prix.”

But team boss Colin Kolles told reporters at the Northamptonshire venue late on Thursday that reserve driver Sakon Yamamoto will race Senna’s car this weekend.

He said more details would be provided in the morning, amid rumours the Japanese former Spyker and Super Aguri driver Yamamoto has simply stumped up with enough money to buy out Senna’s race seat.

Jun.12 (GMM) Karun Chandhok could be set to lose his formula one seat due to his stream of sponsorship funds drying up.

A report in the English language Indian newspaper Hindustan Times on Saturday said the boss of the HRT team, Colin Kolles, is in talks with potential replacements for the 26-year-old from Chennai.

Former Midland and Spyker racer Christijan Albers may be one potential candidate. The Dutchman has F1 experience and has driven for Kolles’ formula one, DTM and Le Mans teams.

Albers, 31, said this week that he might soon return to F1 “with the help of my loyal sponsors. I have a partner that just might give that final push”.

Referring to ‘sources’, Hindustan Times said Narain Karthikeyan and Pastor Maldonado, and HRT third driver Sakon Yamamoto, might also be in the running for Chandhok’s drive.

Chandhok acknowledged in Montreal that the Indian corporate world has not fully backed him, while angling for a Force India seat “at some point in my career”.

“I’ve been chasing (Indian) sponsors for years in GP2 and formula three and stuff, and there are people who want to get involved but are sitting on the fence,” he said.

Chandhok’s influential father, the high-ranking Indian motor racing official Vicky Chandhok, is in Montreal this weekend.

Jun.9 (GMM)  HRT could be set to sign a third test and reserve driver.

The new Spanish outfit has already appointed Sakon Yamamoto and Christian Klien to attend grands prix and occasionally drive during Friday morning practice.

According to the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad, the third test driver could be Christijan Albers.

Dutchman Albers, 31, raced for Minardi and Midland in 2005 and 2006, and lost his Spyker drive due to sponsorship issues mid-way through 2007.

But he has retained his links to former Midland and Spyker boss Colin Kolles, including driving for his Le Mans and DTM teams.  Kolles is now the boss of HRT.

“Also last year there was a possibility (of being in F1), but there was no chance of driving, so that was useless,” said Albers.

“Colin knows how strong I am, especially technically.  With all the teams for which I’ve driven, we have made progress.

“I am keeping trying and it might succeed with the help of my loyal sponsors.  I have a partner that just might give that final push.

“But before I do something I like to be very well prepared,” he added.

As in previous years, Adrian Sutil has indicated he is potentially on the market to switch teams.

The 27-year-old German made his grand prix debut with Spyker in 2007, staying with the same Silverstone based outfit when it became Force India.

Sutil has often indicated he would change to a bigger team, but he told Germany’s Sport Bild that he is happy with Force India’s recent rate of progress.

“As long as every year there are steps being made, I am very satisfied,” he is quoted by the Munich newspaper TZ.

But Sutil admitted he is keeping an eye on the potential seat movements at a couple of top teams.

“We have to see how long Michael Schumacher wants to go on.  And also what happens at Red Bull,” he admitted.

(GMM)

May 6 (GMM)  Christian Klien is happy to be back with an official role in formula one, but he acknowledges that being a third driver at HRT is a “small step”.

Despite Sakon Yamamoto recently signing on in a similar capacity, the new Spanish team on Wednesday said 27-year-old Austrian Klien has been appointed as another test and reserve driver.

Austrian media reports quote him as saying: “I realise that it is only a small step to be third driver with a team at the back of the field.

“But it’s a step in the right direction,” added Klien.

The former Jaguar, Red Bull, Honda and BMW driver, as well as Japanese Yamamoto who has raced with Super Aguri and Spyker, have been referred to as ‘reserve driver’ by HRT.

Klien says it is “speculation” to assume that it will be him who is selected to replace Bruno Senna or Karun Chandhok should either of the race drivers be unable to drive.

“If one of them is unable to race, the FIA regulation is clear: the driver may be changed until Saturday before qualifying.”

A team spokeswoman, meanwhile, said it has not yet been decided whether it will be Senna or Chandhok making way for Klien on Friday morning.

“I’m not wasting any thoughts on it,” insisted Klien.  “The team, led by Colin Kolles, will decide what is best for the team.”

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