Sutil happy to wait until the end of the season to decide on Formula 1 future

The German has a contract with Force India until the end of the year, but claims he is happy to wait like he did last season in case new opportunities arise.

"It was last year very similar, but you already know a bit before," Sutil told AUTOSPORT. "It's not a bad thing to wait until after the season because it's not all said after the first half of the season.

"Some drivers turn it around in the second half and they're on the way up. Maybe some teams will want them. Sometimes I think it's unusual that the teams get their drivers early in the season, because you have to take an average of the whole season. I don't have that problem."

He added: "It's still mid-season. I don't even want to comment about that because it's such a fast business in F1. One good result and you're a hero. One mistake and you're on the floor. I just try and make the best possible and see what comes."

Sutil made it clear, however, that he is still feeling very comfortable at Force India, having joined the team in 2006, when it was known as Midland.

"I feel very happy here. I've been driving here for a long time and it's always in my heart. It's a great feeling when we have success and when we can see it's going in the points now.

"It's a good job we deliver at the moment. It's not over yet either, so we can still improve ourselves and do even better. It's time to show it at the moment. We had a good season last year. Hopefully it's enough time and enough races to do something."

The German driver also says team boss Vijay Mallya has always been very open about his relationship with him, and Sutil expects to hear any news on his future from him first.

"Me and Vijay have an open relationship," he said. "I can get a bit more information out of him than the press can. I have to keep it quiet, but I can always ask him what he thinks. He's always very honest. I don't think I have to ask a lot of other teams because he's not someone that can tell me the truth. He's a very special person.

"In this business you always have your eyes and ears open to hear anything you can here to estimate what's possible. I'm a loyal person and I like this team, so always as a first option I talk to them and see what they think. If they tell me they want another driver, I know what I have to do."

Mallya said recently that he would make a decision "around December 15".