Zoom Klien is keen for a race seat in 2010

Christian Klien announced on Wednesday that he is in talks with three teams about returning to the Formula One race grid in 2010.

The Austrian 26-year-old is currently BMW Sauber's reserve driver, and a vacancy at the team has just opened up with Robert Kubica set to move to Renault.

The Hinwil-based outfit has however been bought by Qadbak Investments in the wake of BMW's decision to withdraw from F1, and presently does not have a guaranteed entry for next season.

Asked whether the Sauber operation is among his three options, Klien explained on his website: "I have a contract with the team and we have worked together very well over the past two years.

"Like I already said when the team was sold by BMW, the successor team is a logical and desirable option for me," he added.

Klien confirmed that "permanent discussions" with two other teams are also taking place, and that the unnamed outfits are "seriously interested" in giving him a race seat.

"It is way too early to talk about any details," he said. "I am thinking mid to long term. A good future perspective is more important to me than a quick contract which might lead into a dead end street soon."

Klien, with 48 grand prix starts under his belt but none since 2006, said he is in no rush to finalise a deal, but believes Kimi Raikkonen's decision about 2010 will trigger the next pieces of the driver market to fall into place.

D.B. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM