Banco do Brasil to end Sauber backing
25 November 2016 – Banco do Brasil is to end its sponsorship deal with Sauber, team boss Monisha Kaltenborn has confirmed, casting further doubt over Felipe Nasr's future in Formula 1.
Nasr graduated to Formula 1 with Sauber in 2015, and earned an extension through 2016, but the team is yet to announce who will partner Marcus Ericsson moving forward.
Kaltenborn, quizzed on recent reports in Abu Dhabi, stated that Banco do Brasil, Nasr's long-time partner, will indeed exit the team, and that its second seat remains "open".
"The bank informed us as well that they've interrupted their 2017 sponsorship programme," she commented.
"We aren't choosing that in our assessments we're making and that's all there is to say of it."
Speaking on Thursday, Nasr said he hoped to stay with Sauber.
"There are still negotiations going on," commented Nasr.
"There are talks with Sauber, mainly, and that's our priority right now.
"I have a great relationship with the team, it's been two great years.
"We have seen the two sides of the coin; in the first year I was able to do so much; in the second it has been such a difficult time with the car being uncompetitive.
"But it was nice that we were able to get those two points in Brazil and I'm sure it has given a boost for the team – these two points mean a lot, for myself and the team.
"Hopefully we'll know [about my future plans] soon."
Brazil now faces entering the 2017 season without a representative on the grid, as Felipe Massa prepares to step away from Formula 1 after a 15-year career.
