This weekend’s German grand prix could be Rio Haryanto’s F1 finale.
It is widely believed the Indonesian rookie’s backing ran out in Hungary last weekend.
But with mere days separating the Budapest race and this weekend’s action at Hockenheim, the Indonesian sports ministry on Wednesday announced that Haryanto will be in Germany.
"Rio has been given another chance to race at the Hockenheimring on July 31," said deputy minister Gatot Dewa Broto, according to the Jakarta Globe.
The minister said Indonesia tried to help Haryanto secure more sponsorship by contacting 16 state-owned enterprises, "but only one has replied".
"We’ve also tried to approach the banks, but no one has responded," Gatot added.
France’s L’Equipe, and the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, report that alongside the McLaren-backed Stoffel Vandoorne, another driver tipped to potentially replace Haryanto is the Renault reserve Esteban Ocon.