Nasr casts aside hopes of an F1 return

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Former Sauber driver Felipe Nasr believes a return to the Formula 1 grid is an unlikely prospect in the mid-term.

The 25-year-old Brazilian contested two seasons with the Swiss outfit but was forced to retreat Grand Prix racing at the end of last year when his sponsor - Banco do Brasil - pulled out of the sport.

Nasr has visited many races this season however, on both sides of the Atlantic, as he seeks his future path in motor racing.

"I tested the IMSA prototype, I had some contact with some Formula E teams, I did some simulators, and I was also at IndyCar at the Watkins Glen round in New York," Nasr told Globo.

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He attended the IndyCar round as a guest of Penske's Helio Castroneves.

"He put me in touch with a lot of people in Indy," Nasr revealed, amid rumours he could test an Indycar next month.

"Regardless of the category, I think I have the quality to be in a competitive team next year," he said.

Nasr is managed by Steve Robertson, who looks after the interests of Kimi Raikkonen, and who has kept him up to date on Formula 1's affairs.

He admits however that a return to F1 will be difficult.

"Either you're linked to an automaker right from the start or you need to take an investment to get into the other teams," Nasr said.

"The moment that our country is going through also does not help. Realistically, no one is investing in anything."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.