BMW tell Heidfeld to lift his game

The Hinwil-based team have, as autosport.com exclusively predicted in May, taken up Kubica's option for 2009.

High level sources have also revealed that attempts by BMW chiefs to tie Kubica down for their preferred three-year period failed, with the Pole adamant he wants to be a free agent for 2010.

Kubica's new deal is unlikely to be announced until the team know who his teammate will be, and Heidfeld's up-and-down form is making their decision on him far from straightforward.

For although Heidfeld had made big progress in recent races to overcome the qualifying issues, setbacks in Hungary and Valencia have once again cast doubts about how on top of the issues he is.

And BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen has made it clear that he wants to see more strong qualifying performance from Heidfeld before he is sure that the German is the right man for his team in 2009.

When asked by autosport.com if he had seen enough yet of Heidfeld's step forward to be convinced for next year, Theissen said: "I am not sure. What we saw in Valencia was mixed again and, in the second run in qualifying two, it was almost a perfect lap. He was struggling before in two specific areas of the track and in that one lap he was able to do that very cleanly.

"I hope it gives him the confidence to be strong again in the races, he has been strong, I think he will be back on track."

When asked if the qualifying factor was going to play a key factor in his team's driver decision for 2009, Theissen said: "It has to, because if you look what you can do from P10, it is limited."

BMW Sauber have not confirmed their taking up of Kubica's option, or the fact they would have preferred a three-year deal, although Theissen did admit last weekend that longer term contracts were more favourable.

"In F1 stability is an important factor, that is what I can say," he said. "That applies to the driver as well as to the key engineers, even the operational tasks. It is so important.

"Generally, I would favour a longer term arrangement on the driver side."

Read this week's edition of Autosport for an in-depth analysis on Robert Kubica's situation.