Following a dreadful showing at Valencia last weekend, Nick Heidfeld's future in formula one is back under a dark cloud.

"When we are in a position to do so, we need to be scoring with both cars," BMW-Sauber team boss Mario Theissen was quoted as saying by RTL after the European grand prix, where Robert Kubica finished on the podium and Heidfeld, the 31-year-old German, was ninth and out of the points.

Dispensing with Heidfeld, however, could be an expensive option for BMW -- not only will the Swiss based outfit need to replace the veteran with a talented successor, but it is understood Heidfeld is already firmly under contract, with a multi-million dollar retainer, for 2009.

In the German press, however, it is rumoured that Heidfeld's managers Andre Theuerzeit and Werner Heinz nonetheless recognise the gravity of the situation and are on the hunt for a back-up plan.

Theuerzeit was spotted more than once in the Red Bull motor home at Valencia, possibly to explore the vacancies at the energy drink company's junior team Toro Rosso.

However, another team boss with a vacancy for next year, Honda's Nick Fry, is quoted as telling the German newspaper AZ when asked about a 2009 berth: "Heidfeld? No."

Source: GMM