Heidfeld Down on Chances of Staying at Sauber

Germany's Nick Heidfeld was pessimistic about his chances of staying at Sauber after the Swiss Formula One team announced they had signed Italian Giancarlo Fisichella.

"We are still speaking but I don't see a big chance to stay here," Heidfeld said at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

"The second driver is not decided but I am also talking to other teams. What can I do? It is not in my hands," he said.

Both Heidfeld and his German teammate Heinz-Harald Frentzen are out of contract at the end of the season and media speculation has linked Brazilian Felipe Massa, the Ferrari test driver, to the second Sauber seat.

Massa, 22, drove for Ferrari-powered Sauber last year. Fisichella, currently with Jordan, has signed a two-year contract.

All the top teams have confirmed their line-ups and Heidfeld's remaining options appear to be Jordan or Jaguar, although Briton Justin Wilson is well placed for that position after replacing Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia this month.

"Talks are going on, the situation has changed but I can't tell you anything," Heidfeld said of his position.

"I am quite confident (of staying in Formula One) although I think this year is quite a difficult situation because there is little change on the drivers' seats. All the top teams are done, there are no changes there. So we try to make the best out of it."

The 25-year-old, who has scored just two points in 12 races this season compared with Frentzen's seven, said he could consider stepping down to a test driver role if it furthered his career.

"It is not something I am aiming for but if I can't find a reasonable seat for next year, you have to think about it," Heidfeld said. "It could be more clever to try and get a good test in a reasonable team, then you never know what happens during the season."