Sutil closing on 2011 decision

The German is believed to have a firm offer on the table from his current Force India outfit for 2011, but he is also weighing up options elsewhere - with speculation having linked him with Renault and Williams in recent weeks.

And although Sutil said earlier this month that he expected a decision before the Japanese Grand Prix, he is now confident the matter will be resolved in the next fortnight.

"I am closer to making a decision, and it will be soon, very soon," Sutil told AUTOSPORT. "For one month now I have said that, but once you are in the situation I am in, then you always think twice. But it should not take too long because I want to plan and I want to know where I go. But it looks quite good.

"The decision is pretty much in my hands. But of course if it was in my hands I could also say now what I want to do, but I just want to make sure that I do the right thing. That is why I need a little bit of thinking time."

Although Sutil admits that there would be benefits from the challenge of racing for a different team in Formula 1, having been with Force India since he entered the sport in 2007, he says he is not worried about being typecast with a single team.

"I am not so concerned what the people think really, because as long as the team is successful and you are happy in the team then there is no problem," he said. "But you always have to improve yourself every season of course.

"I don't see it as a problem to stay a long time within a team. It is quite positive to know the people and its advantages if you are really dialled into everything. You don't need to spend the time too much learning the procedures again and then you probably miss the first few races in just sorting problems out. We don't have that problem here and we can move on quite quick.

"I think for sure once you are too long in a team then you probably feel for yourself that you need to move on, you need a new challenge and you need another team, but I am still okay here. I am enjoying it to be here.

"The first few years were a bit strange and difficult with a lot of team changes, team owner changes, but now I am in the third season with the real Force India, and that is not too long. So it's been a strong team for two years, which is why I am pretty good here still and enjoying it."