Sauber not ruling out new Mexican for 2013

Monisha Kaltenborn on Friday did not categorically deny suggestions Sauber might replace Sergio Perez with another Mexican.

Earlier at Suzuka, Sauber’s chief executive announced that, despite losing Perez to McLaren, the Swiss team will retain its major Mexican backer Telmex.

Telmex also backs Sauber’s reserve driver, youngster Esteban Gutierrez.

"He’s been with the team a long time," said Kaltenborn when asked about the Gutierrez rumours, "and whatever we do with him is something totally independent from Sergio’s leaving and we don’t really want to mix them together.

"We’ll announce whatever we have to in due course."

Kaltenborn did admit, however, that Sauber might lose some Mexican sponsors as the result of Perez’s departure.

"It’s a natural link there, obviously, because they are from the same country, but it is not just that simple that because one driver leaves us all these sponsors will leave," she said.