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F1 driver market gathers pace

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F1 Mole | 12:42 UK time, Monday, 31 August 2009

may have with his but he wasn't the only driver fighting for a brighter Formula 1 future at Spa.

Out of the top eight finishers on Sunday, only knows for certain who he is driving for next season after in Valencia.

Speculation over the fate of race winner , said to be on his way out of Ferrari despite having a contract for 2011, McLaren incumbent , McLaren-linked and veteran Brawn driver - all out of contract at the end of the season - kept the Belgium paddock humming.

Amid the hubbub, the fate of BMW Sauber pair and , who collected the team's best finish of this season in Spa with fourth and fifth respectively, managed to slip under the radar.

In July, as a manufacturer team this year, leaving both drivers without a drive for 2010.

Kubica has since been linked with a move to Williams while his best buddy 's Renault seat is also up for grabs, once the Spaniard's not-to-secret switch to Ferrari is officially confirmed.

alonso_kubica595.jpgGood friends Alonso and Kubica are central to the F1 driver market this season

, who are putting their heads together to roll out a more competitive car in 2010, are perceived to be a good option for Kubica but, despite rumours in Spa that it was a done deal, the Pole is in no hurry to commit to anything.

The 24-year-old is understood to have followed up talks with at the with another sit-down in Belgium.

And a third option intriguingly emerged over the weekend - honouring the final year of his contract with whoever BMW morph into.

Kubica is understood to be happy to stay with the team, who have submitted an entry for next season, if they succeed in finding a suitable buyer.

He is said to be close to founder , who owns a 20% stake in the team but had his takeover bid rejected by BMW at the beginning of August. Now, Sauber and team principal are working hard to secure new investment for the team before the end of September.

After struggling with a sluggish BMW all season, staying with a team in transition would arguably do little to satiate Kubica's title-wining ambitions and talent. But the Pole is understand to want a one-year contract so he is free to move on in 2011 if a better drive becomes available.

Heidfeld is also confident he will find a drive for 2010 and the German has also been linked with a return to Williams, who he drove for in 2005.

The Italian GP on 13 September could well be an unexpected landmark in Fisichella's career if, as looks likely, he gets the nod as 's second stand-in for Ferrari and traditionally provides the backdrop for handshakes on driver moves.

But in a season where The Mole is learning to expect the unexpected don't bet on things to be quite so straightforward this year.

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