Ecclestone hopes Klien gets Sauber race seat

(GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has crossed his fingers that Christian Klien is chosen to be Kamui Kobayashi's teammate at Sauber in 2010.

Klien, 26, has been the Hinwil based team's test driver for the past two years but faces stiff competition for the race seat from incumbent Nick Heidfeld and hopefuls including Pedro de la Rosa.

The Austrian, who prior to becoming a tester contested 48 grands prix with Jaguar and Red Bull, said recently he is holding off signing a 2010 deal with Le Mans team Peugeot because he is hoping for a F1 seat.

"If Christian gets the Sauber cockpit it would be great," F1 chief executive Ecclestone told the Austrian national broadcaster ORF during a winter vacation at the exclusive Lech am Arlberg ski resort.

"I have always supported Christian, it would definitely be a good team for him," the British billionaire added.