Sauber eyes driver call before season end

Oct.21 - Monisha Kaltenborn says Sauber is in no rush to announce its driver lineup for 2017.

With seats at Force India, Renault, Williams, Manor and Toro Rosso also still technically open, the F1 driver 'silly season' is now in high gear.

But when asked if Sauber might make a move soon, team boss Kaltenborn said in Austin: "I don't think so.

"Long gone are the days when everyone wanted to know their drivers for the following season by Hungary."

However, Sauber has been among the latest to announce its drivers in recent years, and Kaltenborn admitted that the Swiss team would like to be quicker for 2017.

"Our goal is to announce the drivers before the end of the season," she said.

"There is not much time before then, but we are already moving in the right direction."

Sauber's current drivers are Marcus Ericsson, who is close to the team's new investors, and the Banco do Brasil-backed Felipe Nasr.

If Nasr doesn't find a place for 2017, it could mean Brazil goes unrepresented on the 2017 grid.

"I hope that Felipe stays in formula one and finds a competitive car," said his countryman Felipe Massa, who is retiring.

"If he stays at Sauber, I'm not sure they will have a good car, especially if they have the old Ferrari engine," he added.

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