Pascal Wehrlein has admitted that Williams are his last hope of staying on the Formula 1 grid for 2018.

The German does not deny reports that the Swiss team Sauber have decided to oust him after the Abu Dhabi finale.

"I think my sporting performance now has no effect," Auto Hebdo quotes him as saying.

"The races here and in Abu Dhabi will not be decisive. We will not score points and everyone knows that.

"I would say that Williams is my only option for 2018. I was told pretty early on that there would probably be no room at Sauber next year.

"And if I miss next season, then returning to Formula 1 after that would be very difficult."

Wehrlein admitted that financial backing is a problem, amid Toto Wolff's recent claim that Mercedes cannot support a driver forever.

"If you do not have any sponsors, it's not possible to organise a cockpit today on your own. It doesn't work," he said.

"If my family could pay five to 10 million it would be different, but they cannot."

Wehrlein has earned five points in the 2017 championship.