- Driver news
Heidfeld confident he will stay in F1 next year
ESPNF1 Staff
October 5, 2010
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Nick Heidfeld had a tough first race back in Singapore © Getty Images
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Nick Heidfeld's manager is confident his driver will be racing in Formula One next season, despite the recent news that his current position at Sauber will be occupied by rookie Sergio Perez in 2011.
Heidfeld will see out the rest of the season at Sauber after replacing Pedro de la Rosa at the Singapore Grand Prix. However, Perez will bring Telmex sponsorship to the team next year to secure a drive alongside Kamui Kobayashi, leaving Heidfeld to look elsewhere.
But his manager Andre Theuerzeit insists talks are underway with other teams and that Heidfeld was "not unprepared" for the Perez news.
"There are still cockpits available in Formula One for next season," Theuerzeit told the German news agency SID. "At the moment we are in negotiations and we are confident there will be a positive outcome."
The most desirable seat still up for grabs is at Renault, but the team principal Eric Boullier has played down suggestions Heidfeld's recent role with Pirelli gives him an advantage.
"That Nick Heidfeld should be first choice?" he mused in interview with F1's official website. "Because he sits on important information and would without doubt give them to his new team? I think that Pirelli will inform all the teams in due course."
Another driver confident of securing a 2011 race seat is GP2 driver Giedo van der Garde.
"There are concrete offers from two teams," van der Garde's manager Jan Paul ten Hoopen told Algemeen Dagblad. "We have received one contract we could sign immediately. But for that we need partners."
He added that HRT is not one of the teams in the running for van der Garde.
"It makes no sense to spend a lot of money on a seat if Giedo's career will be finished for the following year," said ten Hoopen. "It wouldn't be the first time it has happened to a driver."
He is hoping a deal can be finalised by F1's Abu Dhabi finale.
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