Adrian Sutil admits F1 future uncertain

The German driver returned to Formula 1 with Force India this year after skipping 2012 following a conviction for grievous bodily harm for his part in an assault on Lotus co-owner Eric Lux.

Sutil is currently 11th in the standings, right behind team-mate Paul di Resta.

The 30-year-old admits it is still too early to talk about next year, especially with uncertainty about some of the top drives available.

"I am now half a year in, acclimatised myself to life in F1 again and all the procedures are now perfect, I can go almost 100 per cent on my performance," said Sutil. "Let's see what the future brings, I don't know.

"There are some interesting seats available but it depends on certain drivers moving, and then the carousel turns. It's a bit too early.

"I have my goals, I know where I want to go; I have my plans for the future.

"I won't tell it now of course, it would make things too easy. But I'm a loyal person to this team, and whatever I do I will speak to Vijay first."

Sutil conceded the situation for drivers without significant financial backing is complicated, as a lot of Formula 1 teams are struggling to survive.

"It's difficult - in F1 the money is not really there," he said. "The top teams are doing very well, but the teams outside that are struggling to survive.

"They need drivers with sponsorship because they can't get it themselves, so sometimes with rare nationalities it is easier to get sponsors and that's why teams are looking for these kinds of drivers.

"The best package would be a great driver, able to be world champion, with a big sponsorship; then you have no problems.

"[For a team] this is the best thing that can happen: that's natural."