Kaltenborn relieved as Sauber Formula 1 team nears salvation

Team principal Kaltenborn is now close to concluding a deal with investors that will save the Swiss team from extinction following months of uncertainty.

Autosport revealed last month Sauber had found a solution to the financial crisis that had plagued it over the first half of the year and had included missing tests and late payments of staff salaries.

It is understood confirmation of the new backers is expected soon.

Asked whether the pressure was now off her shoulders and there was a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel, Kaltenborn told Autosport: "More than just a little bit.

"In fact, I'm relieved about it all because this is a good team, with good skills and good people. Certain things have just hit us really badly, but this team deserves it.

"I'm not going to give a timeline as to an announcement, but we have a solution we will follow, and we will announce it when the time is right."

Kaltenborn is adamant the new backers have the team's best interests at heart and are fully committed.

Though there are several examples of F1 team investment deals falling through in recent years - including some Sauber talks that did not come to fruition - Kaltenborn is confident these investors will not disappear.

"We're not the only team to have gone through this where you don't really know how they suddenly vanish when something happens," added Kaltenborn.

"I'm happy we have a different kind of solution, and they will be here to support the team, and they are then part of the team. It's not like them and us. We will all be one.

"You need in today's world a strong partner, and particularly in these times someone who believes in the team and sees the potential.

"That is something that has always been a strength of ours. If you look at our past we had Red Bull come in, Petronas, all different kinds of strong partners, and it doesn't have to just be big sponsorship, or a mix, or whatever.

"In this case you will again see that people see potential in us. BMW could have gone to any other team - they were with another team - but they chose to come to use because they saw our potential."