HRT’s tumultuous history could be set to continue, if a report in an authoritative German newspaper is right.
Die Welt claims Thesan Capital, the Madrid-based investment company that bought the Spanish team from Jose Ramon Carabante last year, is already on the lookout for a new buyer.

Originally known as Hispania, HRT was actually founded as Campos by former Spanish F1 driver Adrian Campos when the FIA opened up the grid ahead of the 2010 season.

Die Welt claims that the latest owner Thesan’s desire to sell follows the departure of team boss Colin Kolles, who left with almost every one of the team’s 120 employees back to his Greding based company.

Kolles also took all of HRT’s technical equipment back to Greding, Germany, leaving the team on a desperate struggle to be ready for the forthcoming season.

Nonetheless, HRT announced on Wednesday it is establishing a permanent base at the Spanish tennis open headquarters Caja Magica in Madrid.

But Die Welt claims the team may soon be sold to Carlos Slim, the richest man in the world who already backs Sauber through Sergio Perez and his Mexican companies.

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.

Peter Sauber has denied the signing of Telmex as a major new sponsor means he might be prepared to sell his Swiss formula one team.

On Monday, the Hinwil based team announced that Telmex, headed by the richest man in the world Carlos Slim, will have “a significant presence” on the livery of next year’s Sauber car.

The deal involves Mexican GP2 driver Sergio Perez joining as race driver, with the 20-year-old the most prominent member of the company’s motor sport arm Escuderia Telmex.

“For Telmex and our racing project it’s a great step forward,” said Slim’s son Carlos Slim Domit, chairman of the Mexico City-based company.

Swiss newspaper Blick, traditionally close to Sauber, said the two-year deal is worth about 20 million Swiss francs (EUR 15m).

“And who knows whether Slim will buy his new toy completely,” the report speculated.

But amid lingering rumours that GP2 team ART’s Nicolas Todt was also keen on buying into Sauber, boss Peter Sauber told the Daily Telegraph that is not going to happen.

“I own 100 per cent of the shares, and I have no plans to sell the team or part of it,” he insisted.

But having fielded a mainly blank livery in 2010 after the BMW withdrawal and the Qadbak sale debacle, the 66-year-old sounded relieved to have inked the major deal.

“With Telmex we want to send a clear message to other (potential) sponsors,” Sauber told Blick.

Sauber on Monday finally confirmed long-time rumours linking the Swiss team with a major Mexican investment.

The Hinwil based outfit said GP2 driver Sergio Perez will be Kamui Kobayashi’s teammate in 2011, while the 20-year-old Mexican’s sponsor Telmex has signed up as a major team backer.

The telecommunications giant’s billionaire boss is Carlos Slim Helu, the richest man in the world.

His son Carlos Slim Domit said: “We feel very proud to be able to consolidate these years of work for having a Mexican driver in F1 with Sauber.”

Mexican teenage GP3 driver Esteban Gutierrez will be Sauber’s reserve driver next year.

Said Perez: “I would like to thank Peter Sauber for the faith he’s shown in me and I’ll do everything I can to make the most of this wonderful opportunity.”

In a media statement, Sauber said Telmex logos “will have a significant presence” on the cars from 2011.

“We are happy and proud that they are taking this step with us,” said team boss and founder Peter Sauber.