Piquet Sr. eyeing Sauber takeover

Nelson Piquet Sr.

(GMM) Renault driver Nelson Piquet's famous father is a candidate to take over the Hinwil based BMW-Sauber team, according to the Brazilian newspaper O Globo.

It is claimed that 56-year-old Brazilian Piquet, a former triple world champion, may be eyeing Sauber in collaboration with Super Nova GP2 team chief David Sears.

"All I can say is that I like the name 'Piquet F1'. What do you think?" Piquet's son and namesake, who on Monday may be formally stepped down as Fernando Alonso's Renault teammate, is said to have reacted to the report.

Mentioned by the Swiss newspaper Blick as a possible Sauber savior is Fritz Kaiser, who sold his original team share to Red Bull in 1999.

Joan Villadelprat is also a name doing the rounds after his Epsilon Euskadi application to debut in 2010 was turned down by the FIA.

"To take BMW's place would be difficult, but if a vacancy becomes available we will be there," he told the Spanish sports newspaper AS.

Villadelprat claims his team would be better placed than the new entrants Campos, Manor and USF1. "In the US there are only 15 people working on their project.

"Manor is trying to sell part of the shares and of Adrian (Campos' project) I know nothing, but the rumors are that it is not doing so well," he said.

"I am in permanent contact with the FIA and Ecclestone. I am sure that we will be in F1, I don't know if it's in a week, a month or a year."