BMW Sauber have decided to stick with existing drivers Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld for next season’s Formula One campaign, the team announced on Monday.

“BMW Sauber... has opted for continuity,” the team said in a statement, adding that Austrian Christian Klein would also stay on as their test and reserve driver.

“We see Nick and Robert as a strong driver pairing and Christian as an experienced test driver,” said BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen.

“We are in no doubt that we will again achieve our ambitious aims with them in the team’s fourth year.”

BMW were previously reported to have been interested in replacing Heidfeld with twice world champion Fernando Alonso.

However, Alonso said his“first priority” would be to stay with his current team Renault.

With three grands prix remaining this season, Kubica is third in the drivers’ standings, 13 points behind second placed Ferrari driver Felipe Massa and 20 points behind McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton.

Heidfeld is in fifth place, eight points behind his BMW team mate.