Peter Sauber has revealed he is still on track to return to retirement in the next few years.

The Swiss called off his retirement late last year when BMW pulled out of formula one, which risked the livelihoods of the staff at the Hinwil based team he had founded.

But, according to an interview with Le Matin newspaper, he is now rebuilding the team with an eye on returning to the golf course with his wife.

“I always said I didn’t want to be sitting on the pitwall with my headphones on at 70. I stand by what I said,” said the 67-year-old.

“But I’m going to stay at least until we are able to stabilise the team in a financial sense,” insisted Sauber.

That will involve choosing a new colour for the Ferrari-powered cars for 2011, given the arrival of the Mexican telcoms giant Telmex as sponsor.

“I knew we wouldn’t find a sponsor this year. And unfortunately BMW gave us a car that was painted completely white, which made things difficult.

“But don’t worry, next year we will have sponsors, without which it would not be viable,” he said.

Meanwhile, a new report in Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport claims Ross Brawn is set to take a more backseat role at Mercedes GP.

“It will happen, but not for next year,” the Briton insisted.

Sergio Perez has denied his major sponsor Telmex is positioning to buy control of the Sauber team.

The Mexican telcom will have significant signage on next year’s C30, and its figurehead Carlos Slim – the richest man in the world – has been seen at several grands prix recently.

But boss Peter Sauber earlier this month denied he is considering selling the Hinwil based team, and Slim said the deal is a “commercial alliance” rather than a precursor to a greater involvement.

But when told that the rumours about Telmex buying Sauber still exist, rookie driver Perez said: “No, that’s not true.

“Telmex is entering as a sponsor and nothing more,” he is quoted by the AS newspaper.

The rumours are retaining their strength because Perez will be joined at the team by another Mexican, the test driver Esteban Gutierrez.

“Esteban and I are here because Sauber decided to sign us,” Perez, 20, insisted.

He also backed Fernando Alonso to win the 2010 world championship.

“He doesn’t have as good a car as the Red Bull drivers, but he is the best driver,” said Perez.

According to rumours in the Singapore paddock, the Toro Rosso and Sauber teams could be set for new ownership.

The Basler Zeitung newspaper claims Nick Heidfeld’s new tenure at Sauber could be short-lived because Mexican GP2 driver Sergio Perez stands a good chance of becoming Kamui Kobayashi’s 2011 teammate.

The rumours linking the Swiss team with Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, who sponsors Perez through his Telmex company, have been circulating for some time.

Sauber has already signed a Mexican, the teenaged Esteban Gutierrez, as its 2011 reserve driver.

Meanwhile, the Swiss newspaper Le Matin reports that Dietrich Mateschitz wants to sell Red Bull’s second formula one team Toro Rosso.

The report said the Austrian billionaire stands to make a handsome profit from the deal, because after buying Minardi for $40 million in 2006, the Faenza based team is now be worth three times that much.

Jacques Villeneuve/Durango was mentioned as a possible buyer.

Sauber has signed Mexican teen Esteban Gutierrez as its test and reserve driver.

The new GP3 champion has attended a number of grands prix this year in an observational role with the Swiss based team.

He will now be the reserve driver at all races in 2011, and will test the C29 after the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

“We are confident he will continue to develop strongly,” said team boss Peter Sauber.

19-year-old Gutierrez added: “Formula one is my ambition, and I’m really grateful to Peter Sauber for his confidence in me and my ability.”

Reports are linking Sauber with a significant Mexican investment.

In the wake of former owner BMW’s F1 departure, the Swiss team has been running a mainly blank livery in 2010, whilst working hard on securing a full budget for next season.

Recent paddock rumours have hinted at talks with Carlos Slim, the Mexican billionaire.

Slim’s Telmex company already sponsors Sergio Perez in GP2, but already under contract at Sauber is another Mexican, the teenaged GP3 driver Esteban Gutierrez.

“We think he’s a very promising talent and we’ll continue with him,” said Sauber’s managing director Monisha Kaltenborn recently.

Her boss Peter Sauber told Auto Bild Motorsport: “We need an investor, we need sponsors, I need to bring stability to the team.

“I do not want to sell,” he insisted.