A deal for Pedro de la Rosa to return to the grid next year could be announced officially next week.

After being ousted by Sauber, the 39-year-old Spaniard was recruited as Pirelli’s main test driver but said he would be interested in driving for HRT in 2011 if its “sporting project is interesting and ambitious”.

“I am in contact with the (team owner) Carabantes,” he revealed last month.

Citing the information of a member of the Spanish team, the Brazilian publication Terra said “almost everything is done” to secure de la Rosa’s services for 2011.

And after HRT sealed its deal for a Williams transmission, the report said the team will base its next car on the unraced 2010 Toyota.

The El Confidencial publication said de la Rosa has “increased, not decreased” his personal sponsorship since leaving Sauber, and that he is HRT’s “first choice” for the 2011 season.

The report said another Spanish publication believes an agreement has already been reached between the two parties, with an official announcement due “in the coming days”.

According to Europa Press, de la Rosa will be in Madrid on Thursday due to his involvement in the first 3D advertisement in Spain with the department store El Corte Ingles.

Among his other sponsors are Banco Santander, Diageo and the watch brand Certina.

The prestigious Swiss watch company, Certina official sponsor of BMW Sauber F1 team since 2005, has announced today through a press release that it renews its contribution to the scuderia for the 2010 season.

Sauber’s untainted single-seater (untainted because it’s still getting sponsors) will carry Certina’s logotype in the Formula One’s team single-seaters’ rear mirrors, in the helmets, gloves and overalls’ cuffs of the scuderia’s pilots, Pedro de la Rosa and Kamui Kobayashi.

“For many years, the Certina trademark has been closely linked to sports and, specially to the motor sport.  Just as BMW-Sauber F1 Team, Certina’s philosophy is precision, innovation and dynamism,” assured Adrian Bosshard, president of Certina.

Peter Sauber is very proud of the trust that Certina has placed in his scuderia.  “The collaboration we’ve been feeding these years has been beneficial and we’re very happy that it has extended.  Certina and BMW Sauber F1 Team share many values.  Our alliance is natural and we believe it’s a satisfactory cooperation,” declared BMW Sauber F1 principal.