Felipe Nasr is hopeful of remaining with Sauber for a third consecutive season despite the loss of his main sponsor, Banco do Brasil.
The 24-year-old’s lack of sponsorship is making it difficult to negotiate with Sauber.
Read Motorsport understands Nasr and Esteban Gutierrez will move to Manor with Pascal Wehrlein moving to Sauber to partner Marcus Ericsson.
Despite this speculation, Sauber remains Nasr’s number one choice for next season.
“It doesn’t help, but I cannot change it now,” Nasr said. “We have to work on a solution. But we know how time is crucial in F1.
“My priority is to stick here [at Sauber] if we can, so let’s work on it. Now that the championship is over, we can put our focus on that.
“Money still talks over talent. As I said, we’re still working on a solution, we’re still working on things that we can do from our side, and as long as there is still energy and the will to be here. We’ll try anything.”
Nasr scored Sauber’s only points of the 2016 F1 season at his home race in Brazil but this might not be enough to convince team boss Monisha Kaltenborn to give him a seat for next season.
The Brazilian hinted that there are other options on the table.
“I really have to put things on the table,” he added. “I’m not closing the door to anyone right now. I’m really looking at the options and analysing them to see what is best for my future.”
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has already expressed his desire to have a Brazilian F1 driver on the grid after the recent retirement of 2008 runner-up Felipe Massa, with speculation over the future of the Brazilian GP, having a native driver on the grid is essential.
