Heidfeld - I'm delighted

Heidfeld: Very pleased

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Nick Heidfeld has admitted he is delighted by BMW Sauber's decision to retain him alongside Robert Kubica for the 2009 Formula One season.

After continued speculation that the German could find himself hunting for a new drive at season's end, the Swiss-German team announced on Monday that their line-up would remain unchanged.

The 31-year-old said he hoped to repay the team's vote of confidence in him and help BMW Sauber, who achieved their stated aim of a first victory courtesy of Kubica this season, improve yet further.

"I'm very pleased about this announcement and about the confidence that the team have shown in me," Heidfeld said.

"I've always said that I was happy to stay with BMW Sauber because we've managed to achieve what we set out to do at this stage and I really hope that we will be battling it out for the title itself next year."

While Kubica has emerged has a Championship contender this season, Heidfeld has sometimes stuggled in the Polish driver's shadow, particularly during qualifying.

Nevertheless, his experience and racecraft have still brought four second-place finishes thus far, with Heidfeld currently lying fifth in the Drivers' Championship on 56 points.

He added: "There have been times this season when neither I nor the team could honestly say that we were satisfied with the way things were going, but we have always pulled together and come through."