The Force India team are set to reveal their 2012 driver line-up before the next round of the 2011 season in Abu Dhabi, in order to allow any driver missing out on a seat time to find an alternative drive on the grid.
The Indian team announced earlier this season that they would confirm their 2012 line-up in December this year, after the end of the championship.The team has three contracted drivers fighting for the two race seats in 2012, with current drivers Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta and reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg in the frame.
Last week, Sutil admitted that he was planning early talks with the team over their 2012 decision, due to the fact that the planned December announcement would leave him little time to source an alternative drive were he let go.
And speaking during the Indian GP weekend, team boss Vijay Mallya has said that he has agreed to bring the announcement forward, with the team now planning to confirm their plans before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
"I made it very clear that I would decide by December. However, I have since been requested to decide earlier, and so I will respect that need and take an early decision," Mallya told the Autosport website on Saturday.
"That is all I can say. I am not going to be able to share with you [what the decision is]."
The fight for 2012 seats is largely seen as a straight head-to-head between Sutil and Hulkenberg for a drive alongside di Resta, with the Scot expected to be retained.
Some reports in recent weeks have suggested that the team has already decided that they will bring in Hulkenberg for next year in place of his countryman.
But Mallya insisted that the matter was still open, and that no final decision had been made.
"All three drivers are there and all three are very much in contention, three top class drivers as far as I am concerned," he bellowed.
"But only two can sit in the car, so that is going to be a difficult one for me. I know that, but I will respect their needs and decide earlier."
As for Hulkenberg, Mallya at least hinted that the team were strongly considering promoting him into a race seat.
"He has been very good," he mused when asked about the 2010 GP2 Series champion, "The fact that he managed to put the Williams on pole position last year says it all, doesn't it?"
Hulkenberg secured pole at last season's Brazilian GP, and has spent 2011 as Force India's FP1 reserve driver after being let go by the team.
Should Sutil be dropped by the team, his most likely destination for 2012 would be the Williams team, having been linked with a drive alongside Pastor Maldonado should the team opt for a second sponsor-backed driver.
However, if the Williams deal fails to come to fruition, Sutil's options may be limited. With Toro Rosso expected to remain in-house for their drivers in 2012, only Renault, Virgin and HRT would remain with potentially vacant seats.
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