Sauber Hopes to Conclude BMW Deal Soon

"I hope to be close enough to close an agreement soon, as it would be in the interest of both parties," Sauber told Italy's Autosprint magazine.

"Unfortunately we haven't reached that point yet."

The Swiss squad, currently using Ferrari engines, will end their partnership with the Italian squad at the end of the season.

BMW said they should conclude the deal by the end of this month.

Sauber, like the German company before him, denied BMW were interested in buying his team.

"It's all speculation," he said. "I'm not going to comment on rumours beyond a simple engine supply."

Sauber also said his team could have continued using Ferrari engines next season, despite the World Champions agreeing to supply to the Red Bull team.

"It wouldn't have been a problem to stay with Ferrari, but they made it clear that they wanted to make money out of it," said Sauber.

"For years we accepted it, and Petronas paid for the supply. But this year, the agreement among the manufacturers puts engines at disposal at cost price. We have a duty with Petronas, that's why we are talking to other manufacturers."