Klien wants race seat in post-BMW era

BMW Sauber test driver Christian Klien believes he is in a “good position” to return to a Formula 1 race seat in 2010 and reveals his first choice would be to do so with his current team should it secure a new owner.

The Austrian driver, who joined BMW as its reserve driver in 2008 after spending a year in the same role at Honda following his axing as a Red Bull Racing reserve driver towards the end of 2006, says he has received offers from teams in a bid to secure his services for next season.

And while he believes that at 26-years-old and with 46 F1 races under his belt he offers an attractive proposition for the three new outfits entering the sport next year, he also thinks opportunities will arise with more established teams.

Indeed he admits his first option would be to remain at the Hinwil-based squad in a race driver role should BMW, which is quitting the sport at the end of the season, find a buyer for the team.

“There have been requests throughout the season,” he told his official website.

“In F1 everything is always on the move.

“The new teams are very interested in drivers with experience but a certain long term perspective.

“At only 26 and with my sixth F1 season now I think I can offer both.

“But also the established teams are looking around for new drivers at the moment. A few drivers are on the way out or changing teams.

“Despite those requests that I have received the team from Hinwil would be my first choice.

“The technical resources are great and the passion for racing fits very well with my idea of an F1 team.”

And while BMW’s shock announcement has thrown the former Sauber team and its Hinwil employees’ futures into turmoil, Klien believes the potential remains for it to be strong team under new ownership even though it would unlikely have manufacturer backing.

“The team has proved more than once what they can achieve with limited resources,” he said.

“The spirit of the people is just great.

“And the times of unlimited budgets are over anyway.

“With all this brilliant human capital in Hinwil I see no reason why they should not be able to build a very competitive race car for 2010."

With BMW continuing its search to secure the future of its Swiss-based F1 operation after rejecting founder Peter Sauber’s takeover offer earlier this month, Klien admits he hopes the team’s future can be resolved in a similar fashion to that of the former Honda Racing team.

“Let's not forget what happened to the ex-Honda team last winter,” the Austrian said.

“By February nobody knew if they would make it at all.

“And then they started by driving circles around everyone else.

“As for me personally: Like most drivers I am in a waiting position now.

“As soon as the first pieces of the puzzles fall into the right places, thing may happen quickly. But in 2010 there will be more jobs for F1 drivers than previously, but not any more drivers with Grand Prix experience on the market.

“I feel I am in quite a good position.”

The Austrian admits BMW’s decision to withdraw at the end of the campaign came totally out of the blue.

“First we were all shocked,” he recalled.

“I was totally unprepared when [BMW motorsport director] Mario Theissen called me.

“But then again we are all competitive people.

“Just like a boxer who has suffered a blow you need to get up and get on with it. That's how Formula 1 works.”

Source: ITV