Pastor Maldonado isn't giving up on rejoining the Formula 1 grid in the near future, according to his manager Nicolas Todt.
Maldonado had a deal in place to partner rookie Jolyon Palmer at Renault for 2016, but was dropped after his personal sponsor, Venezuela's state-owned PDVSA, ran into financial troubles and failed to honour its sponsorship payments.
Maldonado confirmed he wouldn't be on the grid this year via a statement he posted on social media, but manager Todt is hopeful of securing his return in 2017.
"We haven't given up on F1 and we will be working to find a way back hopefully next year," Todt told Motorsport.
"As for this season, it is too early to say what he will be doing," added the Frenchman, who ruled out chasing one of the two vacant Manor seats: "Manor really is not an option. After five years with Williams and Lotus, with all due respect to the Manor, it does not make sense for the Pastor."
Todt also hinted that no legal action would be taken over the termination of his contract after confirming the split was an amicable one: "I can only say that it ended in a friendly way."
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