Nick Heidfeld's future with BMW Sauber has been thrown into doubt.
The team's motorsport director Mario Theissen has called on the German to improve his qualifying performances in order to secure a new contract.
Heidfeld has struggled in qualifying compared to his rapid young team-mate Robert Kubica and finished outside the points at last weekend's European Grand Prix in Valencia after qualifying down in eighth place.
That result, allied to a poor 15th-placed grid slot and 10th at the flag at the previous round in Hungary, have seen the pressure increase on the former Williams, Sauber, Jordan and Prost driver.
The 31-year-old sits sixth in the drivers' standings, just 14 points behind the highly-rated Kubica despite his qualifying woes, but Theissen insists BMW cannot afford to carry any weaknesses into the 2009 campaign.
When asked if Heidfeld would be retained next season, Theissen told Autosport: "I am not sure. What we saw in Valencia was mixed again and, in the second run in qualifying two, it was almost a perfect lap.
"He was struggling before in two specific areas of the track and in that one lap he was able to do that very cleanly.
"I hope it gives him the confidence to be strong again in the races, he has been strong, I think he will be back on track."
Theissen added that Heidfeld's lack of one-lap pace has been a cause for concern, and when asked if the problem would influence the team's driver selection, said: "It has to, because if you look what you can do from P10, it is limited."
BMW are set to confirm Kubica as one of their drivers for next season in the coming days. The team want to sign the Pole to a three-year deal, although Kubica is reportedly eager to keep his options open for 2010.
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