Sauber looks set to be first out of the blocks with its 2017 car.

Auto Motor und Sport reports that the Swiss team has already booked a date with the FIA to homologate its car for the new regulations -- 19 December.

Prior to an investor bailout, Sauber almost collapsed financially this year, and so the decision to use the 2016 Ferrari engine in 2017 was viewed by some as an act of desperation.

But boss Monisha Kaltenborn insists it is for technical reasons.

"We know there is a big change coming up, so with the size we are the capacity we have, we needed to focus on that change," she said.

However, team driver Felipe Nasr looks set to lose his race cockpit for 2017, after his sponsor Banco do Brasil wound back the value of the deal.

"What I see is that everyone is interested in money," he told Brazil's UOL Esporte. "Unfortunately, this is the reality of formula one -- money talking louder than talent."

(GMM)