Sauber Formula 1 chief Frede♛ric Vasseur is kee൩n to make a final decision on the team's 2018 driver line-up in the next two weeks as it continues to discuss options with technical partner Ferrari.

Sauber signed a new, expanded technical agreement with Ferrar💞i back in July, securing current-year spec power units from 2018 onwards after a planned deal with Honda was cancelled.

As part of the agreement with Ferrari, Sauber is set to take on at least one of i🃏ts junior drivers in a race seat for 2018, with Formula 2 cha𒆙mpion Charles Leclerc expected to step up after a number of practice run-outs in recent weeks.

Ferrari is also working to secure 2016 GP2 runner-up Antonio Giovinazzi a seat at Sauber, but Marcus Ericsson could keep his drive despite not scoring a point this year by virtue of his links to the team's owner🀅s.

Despite talks continuing, Vasseur is hoping to have Sauber's 2018🐠 line-up finalised by the season-🍷ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix next weekend in order to offer stability heading into the new year.

"𓄧We will do the announcement, I hope, in Abu Dh🙈abi," Vasseur said.

"For sure we’ll do it before Melbourne next year and thatܫ I won’t postpone it each week.

"But I think Charles is doing a good job. Th🐠e situation in FP1 is not an easy one because the first target is to avoid crashing, and by the way that he’s consistent, and he always shows a strong pace, he’s doing a good job."

With Leclerc, Ericsson and Giovinazzi set to fight over the two available seats, currꦑent driver Pascal Wehrlein is poised to depart the team after a single season.

The Mercedes-backed driver has been linked with ♑the sole free seat at Williams, although Robert Kubica is currently the front-runner to take the drive alongs♑ide Lance Stroll for 2018.