Heidfeld signs new BMW contract
After performing strongly for the German team so far in 2007, however, the 30-year-old suggested that inking a deal is little more than a formality.
"I believe that, on both sides, there are not many alternatives," Heidfeld is quoted as telling the news agency Sport-Informations-Dienst at Silverstone.
He expressed satisfaction with team boss Mario Theissen's similarly positive comments about their collaboration this week, in which Heidfeld was described as an "asset" to the Swiss based camp.
Heidfeld said: "It would not make much sense not to continue together but nothing has been signed yet."
07/03/07 (GMM) A contract has not yet been signed but Nick Heidfeld is very likely to stay at BMW-Sauber beyond 2007, both parties admitted on Tuesday.
Team principal Mario Theissen refused to confirm reports that a two-year deal to also cover 2008 and 2009 had been penned in the last few days but he promised that "we will soon talk about a renewal".
30-year-old German Heidfeld's manager Werner Heinz, meanwhile, told Deutsche-Presse-Agentur: "He (Theissen) wants it, we want it, now we have to sit down and talk."
Theissen told Blickpunkt Sport: "Nick is having his strongest season. He works very well with the engineers. He is a very active part of the team.
"He is an asset and we will soon talk about the prolongation of his contract."
Speculation in Germany is rife that the highly anticipated news will be finally confirmed at the Nurburgring on July 22.
07/03/07 (GMM) Nick Heidfeld has finally signed a two-year extension to his contract to race for BMW-Sauber in formula one, according to reports.
The German newspaper Bild-Zeitung said Heidfeld, who is 30, will again line up alongside Poland's Robert Kubica in 2008, with reserve and test driver Sebastian Vettel probably loaned to Toro Rosso for two years.
Heidfeld's new deal runs from the conclusion of the current season until the end of December in 2009, Bild claimed.
The newspaper also said he had been "right at the top of the list" for a possible switch to Honda.
BMW team principal Mario Theissen is quoted as saying: "Sebastian's disadvantage compared to Heidfeld and Kubica is obviously his missing race experience."