Sep.16 (GMM) Pirelli is set to announce a replacement for tyre development tester Nick Heidfeld.

Some reports this week contradicted expectations that the 33-year-old German will have to vacate the role now that he has signed to return to the grid with Sauber.

A Pirelli spokesman told us on Wednesday: "For now we have nothing to add or to comment except that we are working very well with Heidfeld."

The same spokesman later revealed that an "official communication" will be made "in the next days".

ITV quotes a Pirelli spokesman as saying: "Nick will leave with our blessing and we wish him well.

"If we dovetailed both roles (Heidfeld with Sauber and Pirelli), there would be a conflict of interest.

"By the end of the week we should be able to announce his replacement," he added.

Heidfeld's final outing on last year's Toyota with Pirelli tyres is this week at Jerez. His Sauber contract begins on Friday.

Pedro de la Rosa is widely tipped as Heidfeld's successor.

Pirelli told us on Thursday: "We haven't commented about this and we will keep on doing it that way."

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version