Piquet lifeline?

Less than 24 hours after Nelson Piquet Jr was released of his contract from Renault it looked as though the Brazilian drivers career in F1 was over. Or is it?

Could a lifeline come in the shape of his father and a new drive in place of the soon to be de-funked BMW Sauber?

According to Brazilian newspaper O Globo Nelson Piquet Sr is one of the candidates in the running to take over the ownership of the Peter Sauber team. Since BMW announced it's pull out from the sport last week, (BMW Sauber to pull out of F1), a number of investors have already confirmed their intention to buy the German manufacturer's stake in the outfit.

Three time World Champion, Nelson Piquet is rumoured to be in talks with the Swiss based team that are well advanced and close to an outcome. It's understood the former World Champion who battled with the likes of Ayton Senna, Alan Prost and Nigel Mansell to win his final title in 1987, is eyeing a partnership with Super Nova GP team chief David Sears.
.
Brazilian media sources also suggest that a deal has already been agreed with a Ferrari engine suppler and that, Malaysian Oil Company, Patronas will keep it's sponsorship and could possibly become a shareholder in the team.

With Bernie Eccelstone said to have shown approval towards the deal, Piquet and any other investors will have to move fast as Epsilon Euskadi team principal Joan Villadelprat has also been linked with replacing the BMW team on the grid for 2010.

If Piquet Sr does return to F1 he will be the first Brazilian in 27 years to represent the country in the sport with a team. The last time South America was represented was with the Fittipaldi brothers who competed in the World Championship from 1975 to1982.

A return to the sport might not only see a Sauber-Piquet car, but also a quick return to the grid for Nelson Piquet Jr who, as the younger driver put it in a statement, yesterday "executed" from the Renault team after a succession of poor performances.

If the deal does go through, Piquet Jr will surely have a guaranteed seat for 2010 as it would be very unlikely his father would leave his son in the Formula 1 wilderness.
*****
Images from http://www.fasttraknews.com/, www.flickr.com/photos/glediator, www.motorsport-total.com/f1/news/2008.