Nick Heidfeld is under obvious pressure to perform strongly at this weekend's Belgian grand prix.

At the end of the Valencia race two weeks ago, at which the German's teammate Robert Kubica finished on the podium, BMW-Sauber technical boss Willy Rampf said the team had "expected" Heidfeld to at least retain his eighth position achieved in qualifying.

Heidfeld finished the European grand prix ninth and therefore out of the points.

"His pace was simply too slow," Rampf said plainly.

A few days before action kicks off at Spa-Francorchamps, then, BMW chief Mario Theissen is making the team's next expectations clear.

"We plan to see both cars finish solidly in the points," the German is quoted as saying by Focus, a German publication.

Should Heidfeld, 31, lose his BMW-Sauber seat, his options to remain in formula one in 2009 appear limited.

It was reported recently that Heidfeld's manager Andre 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.

STR co-owner Gerhard Berger told Germany's Sport Bild: "If Nick is on the market then you have to have a look at him.

"But at the moment, unfortunately, you have to say his achievements have been a bit down," the former ten time grand prix winner said.

Source: GMM