Heidfeld could split Merc role with DTM seat in 2011

Nick Heidfeld is tipped to combine an ongoing role as Mercedes' reserve driver next year with a race cockpit in the German touring car series DTM.

The 33-year-old said recently he wants to be back on the F1 grid in 2011 because "I feel too young for DTM or for taking part in Le Mans".

But with many teams likely to secure unchanged driver lineups next year, Heidfeld admitted this week: "I'm afraid that the top ten seats are gone already."

Now, in the Auto Plus column of the well-known French TF1 journalist-commentator Jean-Louis Moncet, veteran of 167 Grands Prix Heidfeld may be leaning towards a move to DTM.

But Heidfeld would combine the 2011 seat, presumably in one of the Mercedes-powered DTM cars, with an ongoing role at Grands Prix, Moncet added.

The same split is being managed this year by David Coulthard, who races a 2008 C-Class as well as attending F1 events as a British television pundit and occasional Red Bull reserve driver.

However, Germany's Bild newspaper recently said Sauber, currently fielding Pedro de la Rosa alongside Kamui Kobayashi, could host Heidfeld's return to Formula One in 2011.

Heidfeld drove for the independent Sauber team between 2001 and 2003, and then again with BMW ownership in 2006-2009.