The F1 ex-pilot, Christian Klien and the F2 champion, the Spaniard Andy Soucek are still battling for the two remaining positions of the Formula One grid for this season.
USF1 and Campos have not confirmed yet their second pilots, and both Klien and Soucek assure to be in negotiations with the teams before the opening of the season in Bahrain, on March 14th.
“The possibilities are still good,” declared Klien. “Until there is an actual possibility I’m going fight to participate in the F1. Another year as reserve driver would not be a catastrophe.”
On the other hand, Soucek, has announced that his negotiations with the Spanish team are in an “advanced” stage, while his conversations with USF1 are more casual.
“Right now it is not signed, but during the negotiations new options have come up,” said Soucek and added that he does not discard participating as test driver, but naturally, without paying seat.
They are both competing with champion Adrián Vallés, who many consider one of the favorites for the USF1 seat. The Spaniard was already very near in 2007; maybe this is his chance.
“I’m sorry. I cannot talk. I only hope things don’t go wrong.“ declared Valles, last week.
We are still waiting for Campos to comment on the solution of his financial problems and centers in the vacant seat, as well as submit his plans as the beginning of the season is approaching

In spite of learning that the opportunity for participating in the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship with Renault has vanished with the confirmation of the Russian, Vitaly Petrov, the Spanish pilot, Andy Soucek is far from giving up. “For the time being, there’s nothing closed.  Negotiations have taken place and we have opened new options.  The two vacant seats are USF1 and Campos, but there are other alternatives that are also tempting me quite a lot, and all in Formula 1″, said Soucek.

“To be the first-team pilot is something that attracts all pilots –regardless of the team-, because what we want is to be in the grid.  But to be a reserve pilot is more important than being a test driver, because if something happens to the first-team pilot you take his place.  So this is something I have in mind if it would be a large team.  It would help me a lot and give me time to prepare for 2011, with one more year of experience in Formula 1.  It’s a role one should not rule out;” declared the Spanish pilot.

“I think I deserve the position of third pilot and I don’t think I have to pay for it.  That’s what interests me.  As a first-team pilot you have to have a big sponsor behind you, but as third pilot you can have a small sponsor or not even that, because they’re counting on you since you’re going to contribute with something to the team,” assured the Spaniard-Austrian pilot.

The thing being that more doors are closing every time, and more so with the possible arrival of Adrián Vallés to the USF1 team, which has a vacant seat.  Soucek said: “I don’t know if he has signed; I understand he hasn’t.  But, Adrián has always been ahead; he has raced very fast in all the championships he has participated.  He has been my team-mate and cannot say anything bad about him.  He’s very fast and he deserves it.  We haven’t talked and I cannot give more information.”

This way, it is confirmed that there is contact with USF1.  “Yes, there have been conversations, but this is like everything else: at the end, everybody talks with everybody else, and much more in a moment like this, when the teams are desperate for a pilot, as well as the pilots for a team.”

“I’m not going to allow desperation to get to me, and if I sign I want it to be something that helps me in my sport career; not that jeopardizes it.  So, whatever step I take is going to be well thought out, and I’ll see that the team with whom I sign gives me a guarantee of playing a decent role within the Formula One,” the pilot pointed out.

And what about Campos Meta 1 which has only confirmed the Brazilian, Bruno Senna? “For a month I’ve been in very advanced negotiations with Campos.  As has been announced in all media, Adrian is going through a very difficult moment.  I thing the same indecision and uncertainty we all have is what he’s experimenting, too,” Soucek reflected.

Based on Adrián Campos statements, today we have confirmed, that before next Monday, he will take care of the financial problems.  “Right now, he doesn’t know what’s going to happen.  He’s wishing that his team succeeds.  We all do.  It’s a Spanish team and it would be very important for motoring, but unfortunately there’s an economic problem with all the new teams, and besides, maybe the media is taking it out on him a bit too much.  Let’s hope he can solve the problem and then, it will be known who his second pilot will be,” he explained.