BMW hints at unchanged F1 line-up in '09.

For the first time this year, Dr Mario Theissen has suggested that BMW-Sauber will retain an unchanged driver line-up in Formula 1 in 2009 - seeming to quell speculation about Nick Heidfeld's future at the squad.

The experienced German has endured a trying start to the 2008 campaign, struggling to heat up his tyres sufficiently quickly in qualifying and consequently leaving him on the back foot come the races, an issue that prior to the British Grand Prix had seen him out-qualified by team-mate Robert Kubica eight-nil - twice indeed failing to make the top ten Q3 shoot-out at all - and out-scored 48 points to just 26.

Claiming to have made a breakthrough in the run-up to Silverstone, however, Heidfeld went on to out-pace Kubica in qualifying for the first time this year, earning himself fifth spot on the grid around the Northants circuit. Even more encouragingly still, his race performance - when he twice pulled off double overtaking moves on a charge that took him to the second step of the rostrum, his third podium finish of the season to-date - seemed to back that assertion up, and has instilled the under-pressure 31-year-old with a new lease of life as he approaches his home event at Hockenheim this weekend.

Both Kubica and Heidfeld are understood to be under contract with BMW for 2009. There have previously been suggestions that the Munich and Hinwil-based concern is interested in securing the services of disenchanted Renault incumbent Fernando Alonso, or possibly even GP2 Series front-runner Bruno Senna - seemingly in place of Heidfeld - but Theissen has sought to play down any such talk.

"A team that wants to play a role in the world championship needs two strong drivers," the Bavarian manufacturer's motorsport director asserted in an interview with German magazine Auto Motor und Sport. "However, even the best driver is not a robot. He can only deliver maximum results if the equipment, the environment and everything else is right.

"At Silverstone Nick gave a convincing performance; strong in qualifying, fast in the race, with spectacular overtaking manoeuvres and very good vehicle control in very difficult conditions.

"For me this is the fruitful result of the past weeks of intensive work. I am convinced that, in the second half of the season, we will see a strong Nick Heidfeld.

"We will announce our driver pairing for 2009 between the [August] summer break and the end of the season, so for the moment nothing has changed."

Kubica, meanwhile, refused to comment on speculation that has linked him to a possible berth at Ferrari next year, in light of his sparkling 2008 form that saw him leading the drivers' world championship in the wake of his breakthrough Canadian Grand Prix success. He has also made it clear that he would welcome the challenge of having friend and double world champion Alonso alongside him.

"I am happy with the team," the 23-year-old Pole told Spanish newspaper Diario AS. "Will I continue with them? I don't know. It is a difficult question.

"I have never had any problems with my team-mates, and it would be the same if Alonso was next to me. I don't know whether or not he is coming here, though; I still do not know even if I will be staying."

Heidfeld, for his part, professed himself keen to put on a strong showing for his home fans in the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim this weekend - and insisted that he was confident of holding onto his coveted seat at BMW beyond the end of the current campaign.

"I feel good in the car again," the man from M?nchengladbach told German publication Sport Bild. "Before Silverstone the car was driving me, but now I feel like I'm back in control.

"Since I have been in Formula 1, dozens of drivers have come and gone. I feel I have the support of the team."