Pirelli will announce Heidfeld's replacement this week

Pirelli is entering into various negotiations to hire a new driver who can replace Nick Heidfeld in the tests on the new tires that the Italian manufacturer will introduce starting from 2011. Heidfeld, thirty-three years old, will race starting from the next grand prix with Sauber and, for obvious reasons of interest, will no longer be able to develop tires for the next world championship.

The Pirelli spokesperson during an interview for ITV reported: “Nick will leave with our blessing and we wish him all the best. We can't add or comment on anything other than to say that we worked very well with Heidfeld. Nick won't be able to race for Sauber and test for us at the same time, there would be too great a conflict of interest. By the end of the week we should be able to announce his replacement."

Over the weekend Nick will carry out his final test with Pirelli tires in Jerez. Pedro de la Rosa seems to be the candidate to replace him but Italy prefers not to comment on this indiscretion.

Robert Ferrari