Heidfeld Says Likely to Stay at Sauber in 2003

German Nick Heidfeld said on Thursday that he is very likely to stay with the Sauber team for another season despite his contract coming to an end at the end of 2002.

"The chances are very big that I'm going to stay with Sauber next year but there's nothing confirmed yet because the situation is that (team boss) Peter (Sauber) has got an option which he's got to take up somewhere around Spa and I think that he's going to take that option and then that's it," Heidfeld said today at a press conference ahead of the German Grand Prix.

"But for now there's nothing fixed. The chances are really big and I feel good within the team."

26-year old Heidfeld is on his second season with the Swiss squad after a torrid Formula One debut with the defunct Prost team in 2000. The German has been linked with other outfits as he continues to impress with Sauber, and despite not getting the call from one of the top teams yet, Heidfeld is confident he will get a break eventually.

"Obviously I would like to get a chance in one of the top teams but I'm not frustrated at all," he said. "I'm having a good season at the moment, I think I'm still quite young and if I keep pushing like that, I think I will get my chance.

"There have been a lot of rumours in the past few weeks and months but most of them are just made up. Obviously my manager is speaking to a couple of teams, but as I said, the chances are very big that I'm going to stay with Sauber."