Grapevine: Toyota deny Heidfeld interest

Reports in the German media have linked BMW Sauber driver with the Japanese squad, who have Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher as their drivers.

The team, however, denied on Thursday they were looking at any drivers yet.

"This is only the second race of the season and we are not yet at the stage of looking at driver options for the future," team manager Richard Cregan said at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

"We are very happy with the driver line-up we have now and we have made no such contact. Instead we are concentrating on our race programme for 2007."

Last year, Trulli renewed his contract with Toyota for another three years, while Schumacher is in the final of a three-year deal with the team. Toyota have a two-year option over the German, however.

Heidfeld was originally announced as having a three-year deal until the end of 2008 when he signed for BMW Sauber at the end of 2005.

However, it is understood that there may be options in that contract that could result in him becoming a free agent at the end of this year.

BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen fuelled the uncertainty about Heidfeld's contractual position on Thursday when he declined to comment on what the situation was.

"I would like to talk to Nick first before I talk to you guys," he said.