The Sauber team is "very confident" that it will be granted the final slot on next year's grid in the wake of its sale to Peter Sauber.
Following the collapse of a proposed deal with Qadbak, a financial investment group that had intended to buy the team after BMW's withdrawal, Peter Sauber stepped in to buy the operation back. Although there has not yet been any official confirmation of whether the team will get the slot vacated by Toyota, Peter Sauber said on Monday he was upbeat about the situation.
"This agreement means that the future of the team and the location in Hinwil are secured," he said in an interview with the official Formula 1 website. "I am very relieved about that development.
"It would have been a crying shame had one of the best Formula 1 factories closed down. Regarding the slot on the grid I am very confident that we will be given a final confirmation very shortly."
Sauber, who is understood to be meeting with Bernie Ecclestone today, said he expected an announcement prior to next week's FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting. He is also adamant that the uncertainty over the team's future has not affected work on next year's car.
"Our 2010 car is perfectly on schedule," he said. "The development and fabrication have been unaffected by the situation. Having been able to proceed with uninterrupted development was also possible thanks to excellent cooperation with Ferrari, who submitted all the relevant data very early.
"Regarding the performance of the C29 [chassis], we are all very confident. Two months before the first tests, we have already reached a very good basis for further development."