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F1: Nick Heidfeld to replace Pedro de la Rosa from Singapore

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Khatir Soltani
From GMM

Sunday at Monza was Pedro de la Rosa's last grand prix with the Sauber team in 2010, according to a Swiss report.

The Blick newspaper, with close links to the Hinwil based team's chief Peter Sauber, said Nick Heidfeld will definitely be driving the Ferrari-powered C29 from now on, starting with the Singapore night race in two weeks.

The news will almost certainly result in Nick Heidfeld, who this year was formerly Mercedes' reserve driver, relinquishing his new role as test driver for the 2011 tyre supplier Pirelli.

It will be the third Sauber tenure for German Heidfeld, 33, who also drove for the Swiss team in 2000-2003 and 2006-2009.

"This makes sense," wrote veteran Blick correspondent Roger Benoit, "because Sauber wants to make up the 20 point arrears to Williams, in order to finish the world championship in seventh position."

Compared with rookie teammate Kamui Kobayashi's 21 points, long-time McLaren test driver de la Rosa has scored just 6 points on his return to the F1 grid this season.


Peter Sauber has refused to comment on reports Pedro de la Rosa will not return to the wheel of his car for the rest of the 2010 season.

La Nueva Espana said that after Spaniard de la Rosa's post-race media rounds in the Monza paddock on late Sunday afternoon, the 39-year-old was called for a meeting with the team's management.

The report said the driver left the circuit immediately afterwards "with a scowl" and began his road journey back to his home in Zurich.

"He did not answer his phone," said the writer.

Peter Sauber also refused to comment: "I am not talking about my drivers," he said.

After not appearing in the Spa paddock two weeks ago, Nick Heidfeld was inconspicuously present at Monza over the race weekend.

The report at lne.es said sources have confirmed that it is "99 per cent" certain the 33-year-old German will be racing in de la Rosa's place in Singapore.



Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
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