If Adrian Sutil departs, Force India will have parted ways with a driver the team regards very highly.
It is rumoured strongly that, despite his experience and sponsorship by the Medion company, German Sutil will be replaced for 2012 by the team’s 2011 reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg.
But according to Force India’s official noises of late, Sutil is still highly regarded by the Silverstone based team.
Asked to summarise drivers Sutil and Paul di Resta’s contribution to helping the team to finish sixth in the constructors’ championship, deputy team boss Robert Fernley said: "I think they both did a fabulous job.
"I think Adrian’s pass of Nico Rosberg in Brazil was excellent, and it just showed how he’s matured through the year."
And throughout the Interlagos weekend, the plaudits were also flowing, with 28-year-old Sutil’s qualifying described as "excellent", and his race "brilliant".
Should he be shown the door, his best chance of staying in formula one appears to be a switch to Williams.
"I am 100 per cent sure that I’m going to be in formula one next year," the German newsmagazine Focus quoted Sutil as saying.