Heidfeld Confirms Sauber Exit

German Nick Heidfeld confirmed that the final Formula One race of the season in Suzuka, Japan, would be his last for the Sauber team.

"I'll try to do my very best in Suzuka in my last race for Sauber," Heidfeld, who finished fifth in Indianapolis, said on his website on Monday.

Team boss Peter Sauber confirmed after Sunday's US Grand Prix that Heidfeld and compatriot Heinz-Harald Frentzen would leave the Swiss-based outfit. Italian Giancarlo Fisichella, who has agreed a two-year contract with Ferrari-powered Sauber, will join from Jordan to replace Frentzen.

Brazilian Felipe Massa, who raced for Sauber last year and has since become a test driver for Ferrari, is expected to take Heidfeld's place.

"We know that Massa will come and it's just a matter of time before we announce it," Sauber told German sports news agency SID.

Frentzen, who collected his first podium finish since 2000 with third place on Sunday, is considering joining the German DTM sportscars series while Heidfeld is still looking for a drive in Formula One.

Sauber's strong show in Indianapolis enabled the team to leapfrog BAR and Jaguar into fifth place in the overall constructors' standings.

"The fact that both drivers are leaving is difficult for me but it's better that way than after a bad result," Sauber said.