Ecclestone 'sure' Sauber solution can be found

Bernie Ecclestone sounds confident a solution will be found to allow the newly Qadbak-owned Sauber team to take its place on the 2010 grid.

Although founded by Peter Sauber in 1993 and racing constantly in Formula One ever since, the Hinwil based team's owner BMW is pulling out, and the available team places have been taken up by Lotus, Manor, USF1 and Campos.

The existing teams are not permitting a 14th team to race next year, raising the prospect that Sauber will be locked out.

"I hope they'll be there. I'm sure we'll find a way," F1 chief executive Ecclestone said in Abu Dhabi.

Sauber himself has travelled to the United Arab Emirates this weekend, and team boss Mario Theissen said the team's progress has stalled because of the lack of a place on the 2010 grid.

"We don't have a clear deadline but it is clear that time is running and it gets more and more difficult for the team," said Theissen.