Force India: who will drive for the team in 2012?

The 2011 Formula One season is heading towards the end with exciting races to undergo and Sebastian Vettel eyeing coronation with ‘youngest double world champion’ in F1 history. Vettel’s championship rivals have given-up their title hopes for this season and major front-running teams are shifting their focus to the next season. This brings opportunities to rookies to upgrade themselves to formula one race seat, with some ousted or sidelined F1 drivers eying return to race-day.

The Silverstone based Force India F1 team is yet to decide on their driver line-up for the 2012 season and team principal Dr. Vijay Mallya has already stated the team will not declare the line-up until mid-December. Mallya’s December deadline means that the options in his drivers’ contracts will be expired by then – Adrian Sutil’s contract ends with the season – making drivers’ and team officials indulge in negotiations. Germany’s Adrian Sutil and Scot Paul di Resta who served the team as the front men are likely to retain their contracts while another German Nico Hulkenberg, who served team being reserve driver making Friday appearances, is also running for the 2012 seat.

Paul di Resta, Adrian Sutil and Nico Hulkenberg

Some of the recent media rumors indicate Adrian Sutil visiting Williams Grove based factory, along with Kimi Raikkonen, to discuss option for the next year as Sutil’s main sponsor Medion is rumored to be in Williams’ draw for the sponsorship. But the German’s manager Manfred Zimmermann has rejected rumors stating them as ‘nonsense’ and said Force India remains the top priority for Adian Sutil. This means Sutil is likely to stay with the Force India squad. Paul di Resta has been impressive this season and has been the best rookie of all in this season.

Mallya has praised his performances indicating that he is the future of the team – Paul secures his seat with the team. Nico Hulkenberg – better known as ‘incredible Hulk’ after his pole position performance last season driving Williams’ F1 car - will have to sit out as reserve or need to find another team. But the biggest obstacle for Hulk is lack of sponsorship money and most of other teams including Williams are looking for paying drivers to fund their set-ups.

Hulkenberg tweeted this week that, he is not sure yet if he will be able to call himself a F1 race driver once again next year.

I hope I can race with Force India but the team will decide not before December, so I must wait.

Nico’s only possibility for a drive in 2012 with Force India is if Sutil’s sponsors get Williams’ draw moving Sutil to the Grove based team.

We hope the Silverstone based Force India team gets a perfect drivers line-up to take them among the top order for next season.