Oct.12 (GMM) As Sebastian Vettel drinks in his unprecedented success, two of his German countrymen are hoping simply for a place on the 2012 grid.

Adrian Sutil has been with Force India since the Silverstone based team's Spyker days, but speculation is mounting that Vijay Mallya is planning to pair Paul di Resta with Nico Hulkenberg next year.

"I still have no contract (for 2012)," the German newsmagazine Focus quotes the 28-year-old as saying this week.

"For sure we'll have a meeting soon," Sutil, referring to his boss Mallya, told the BBC last weekend at Suzuka. "I'll ask his opinion about next year and hopefully he'll give me a sign."

Mallya said he will not make a decision until December, but Sutil said the end of the year "is a little late because normally all the other seats are taken".

Already absent from the grid in 2011 is Nick Heidfeld, who recently lost his Renault race seat to Bruno Senna.

Reports have linked the veteran of 183 grands prix with a BMW reunion in the German touring car series for 2012.

"I am in contact with the DTM teams," the 34-year-old confirmed, "but my focus at the moment stays in formula one."

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