It is believed that Sauber has signed German Nico Hulkenberg to move from Force India to the Hinwil-based team in 2013. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Sauber Door Closed: Sauber appears set for an all-new driver lineup for 2013. The Swiss team's current Mexican driver, Sergio Perez, is headed for McLaren after November's Interlagos finale. It is expected that, with the Telmex sponsorship dollars staying at Sauber in 2013, the team will simply promote Mexican rookie Esteban Gutierrez, 21, to replace him. The other 2012 incumbent, Kamui Kobayashi, has revealed he must imminently find sponsors if he wants to stay at Sauber next year. But it is now widely believed that Sauber has in fact already signed German Nico Hulkenberg to move from Force India to the Hinwil-based team in 2013. The Brazilian newspaper O Estado de S.Paulo said Luiz Razia, the 2012 GP2 runner-up, has been in talks with Force India and Marussia about his F1 debut next year. "We talked with Sauber as well," the 23-year-old Brazilian is quoted as saying, "but in recent days they've changed their stance, saying it's no longer possible. This tells me they have decided their two drivers." Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn won't confirm that. "We don't want to give constant updates about the direction we are going in," she said on Swiss television Schweizer Fernsehen. But former Toro Rosso racer Sebastien Buemi said it is "too bad" the door to Sauber for 2013 now appears closed. "But the door could be open at Force India," the Swiss is quoted by Blick newspaper. O Estado de S.Paulo, however, said the line of candidates to pair with Paul di Resta at Force India next year is long, including Bruno Senna, Kobayashi, Charles Pic, Jules Bianchi, Giedo van der Garde and possibly even Pastor Maldonado.

'No Way' McLaren To Stay With Mercedes As Customer: McLaren is reportedly seeking a new engine partner for its famous Formula One team. The Woking-based team has been powered by Mercedes engines since 1995, but the German carmaker now has its own, entirely separate works team. Indeed, McLaren's current Mercedes relationship will soon end, leaving the Martin Whitmarsh-led team having to become a normal engine 'customer' like Force India. Honda, the Japanese carmaker that in the past enjoyed a successful F1 partnership with McLaren, has been mentioned as a possible alternative, particularly with the sport's rules switching from V8 to turbo V6s in 2014. Honda pulled out of F1 after the 2008 season. "I follow the rules, certainly, and if they present an opportunity then it would be nice to go back (to F1)," Honda's head of research and development Yoshiharu Yamamoto admitted this month. The Sun newspaper said McLaren is indeed "looking to ditch Mercedes and reunite with Honda." "There is no way McLaren will stay as a customer for Mercedes engines," a source is quoted as saying.

Qatar Targets F1 Testing, Race: Arab state Qatar is pushing to become F1's next new host. The Losail circuit, built in 2004 and located just outside the capital Doha, already stages a night race for MotoGP. And the president of Qatar's motor racing federation, Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, has revealed that Losail is bidding "to get the license which would allow us to host F1 teams for preseason testing and other activities. F1 race director Charlie Whiting was here to inspect the Losail circuit," he said. "He was impressed with what he saw." The AFP news agency quoted Al Attiyah as saying preseason testing for the 2013 season, and "eventually a Grand Prix," is Qatar's goal.

Unpaid Staff To Confront Mallya At Indian GP?: No longer facing arrest over bounced checks, Force India chief Vijay Mallya could still endure a trying race weekend in his native India. The Hindustan Times newspaper reports that unpaid and grounded staff of the billionaire's beleaguered Kingfisher airline intend to confront Mallya at the Buddh circuit this weekend. "We have planned to stage a dharna (sit-in protest) when Mr. Vijay Mallya comes at the Grand Prix," an unnamed Kingfisher engineer said. "A protest at the sporting event will highlight our plight to the entire world." An air hostess added: "What is the option left before us but to protest? All of us are in deep financial crisis, but (Mallya) is unperturbed. (He is,) in fact, mocking at our misery with (his) lifestyle."

'No Regrets' After Chandhok's Short F1 Career: Karun Chandhok insists he has no regrets despite having to look back on a short Formula One career. With F1 returning to his native India this weekend, thee 28-year-old insists he is not disappointed that his new foray is sports car racing. Chandhok raced part of the season for HRT in 2010 until he switched to Caterham (then Lotus) as reserve driver, even standing in for Jarno Trulli in Germany mid last season. He now races full-time in the FIA's endurance sports car championship. "I have no regrets because I did everything possible to make things happen in F1," Chandhok told the Times of India. "When you feel you wasted an opportunity, then you feel disappointed. (But) if you can't get the sponsorship, if you can't get the money you need ... that's life and you just need to get on with it."