Sauber says Filippi reports ‘nonsense’

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Luca Filippi

Jun.3 (GMM) Sauber has dismissed as “nonsense” reports that Pedro de la Rosa is on the verge of losing his race seat.

The veteran Spaniard has been faced with similar speculation for almost the entire season so far, despite the Swiss team denying it is reconsidering its 2010 lineup.

The latest reports say de la Rosa, 39, was almost replaced by Italian GP2 driver Luca Filippi ahead of the Turkish grand prix.

The Italian source said an agreement may simply have been delayed until the European grand prix at Valencia at the end of the month.

But the Swiss newspaper Blick, whose correspondent Roger Benoit is historically very close to 66-year-old Peter Sauber, quoted a team source as dismissing the latest rumours as “nonsense”.

The newspaper also reports that Swiss driver Sebastien Buemi is set to stay with Toro Rosso in 2011, and in the longer term is a candidate to move up to the energy drink company’s main team Red Bull Racing.