Campos-Meta has already signed Bruno Senna, but reported problems with sponsorship meant that the team's desired second driver Pedro de la Rosa was now looking elsewhere.

"As of today the possibility exists that the seat we have left is to be occupied by a Spanish driver," team president Jose Ramon Carabante said.

"Of course, for us, it would be a dream that it is Pedro de la Rosa," he added, referring to the 38-year-old McLaren tester.

"The negotiations with Pedro were never stopped," Carabante said, cautioning that whether or not he can be signed continues to depend on sponsorship.

He said the goal is to announce Senna's teammate by the end of December, with pay-drivers Pastor Maldonado and Vitaly Petrov also at the front of the queue.

Reinforcing the end of year deadline, the El Mundo newspaper said McLaren has given de la Rosa until December 31 to decide his role for 2010.  Sauber was named as another option, and de la Rosa admitted that a decision is likely "in the next 15 days".

Carabante also denied suggestions that Campos might not make it to the Bahrain grid next March.