In an interview with the Swiss newspaper Blick, he said he had been intimately involved in the talks that see the formerly BMW-owned team change hands to a consortium involving unnamed Middle Eastern and European families.

Asked what role he is now going to play in the Hinwil-based outfit he founded in 1993, 65-year-old Sauber answered: "We are probably going to meet again next week and then I will be able to better answer this question."

Asked if he might be appointed team boss, a role he occupied until he sold to BMW at the end of 2005, Sauber said: "If the investors want me as the team head then I will do that.

"That doesn't mean I want to do it, but the fact is I assured these people before the sale that I am at their disposal if they need me, no matter for what role," the Swiss added.

He admitted the team could be entered into the 2010 championship as Sauber-Ferrari, but stressed that "this question might only be answered conclusively next week".

He also said the question of drivers will be discussed shortly, and refused to divulge any further information about the mysterious buyout consortium Qadbak.

"All I can say is that the group has enterprises the whole world over and wants to use formula one as a business platform," said Sauber.