Jan.18 (GMM) Nick Heidfeld is not a candidate to fill the vacant race cockpit at Toro Rosso alongside Sebastien Buemi in 2010.

"In our considerations, Nick Heidfeld plays no role," said team owner Red Bull's motor racing consultant Helmut Marko.

"That has nothing to do with his quality as a driver," the Austrian told Germany's Sport Bild. "Toro Rosso is purely a Red Bull junior team, and the budgets and many other things are closely aligned to that."

Before Michael Schumacher's decision to return from retirement, Heidfeld, 32, had hoped to switch to Mercedes GP after his recent four-year tenure at BMW-Sauber.

He is now linked with Sauber, Renault, and Mercedes' reserve role.

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