Narain Karthikeyan may replace Albers at Spyker

Klien has driven most recently, taking part in Friday practice for Honda at the British Grand Prix last week after Briton Jenson Button suffered back pains, and visited the Spyker factory on Monday. “For the moment, no other driver is signed,” said Kolles.

“Obviously, Narain is one of the options… I think it’s a good option and we are just in the process of evaluating this,” he added. “Williams is informed about this possibility, yes.”

Markus Winkelhock, already under contract to Spyker as a test driver and in possession of the necessary super licence, may, however, be drafted in first for what would be a home race at the Nuerburgring in Germany next week.

Dutch driver Giedo van der Garde, one of Spyker’s other testers, does not yet have a super licence.

The team said earlier today that they had dropped Albers with immediate effect due to non-payment by one of his main sponsors and a decision on the 28-year-old’s replacement would be taken in due course.

Kolles said the move was essential for the Dutch-owned team’s finances and accepted there could be a backlash in the Netherlands. “We have to go through this period and to do the best for the team,” he said. “The nationalities are not important at the moment. We have to take the best options.”

The team principal said Albers’ replacement need not necessarily b0e a driver bringing the most money with him immediately but could also be one whose performances on the track would attract further sponsorship. He also did not rule out Albers driving for the team again one day.

“You should never say never. Formula One is a very quick business,” he said. “Things could change very quickly but for the moment I can say this is the situation and we are looking at other options.”

He said German rookie Adrian Sutil, the team’s second driver, was in no danger of losing his place.

Albers’ future with the team was called into question by media after he drove out of the pits at the French Grand Prix on July 1 with a fuel hose still attached to his car, forcing him to retire from the race, AP adds from Amsterdam. However, Spyker said Albers’ driving was not the problem.

Spyker has yet to win a point in the driver or constructor standings after nine of the season’s 17 races. Albers’ best finishes were 14th place in the Bahrain and Spanish races. He has failed to finish in four races.

Team principal Colin Kolles said the decision to end Albers’ contract was difficult. “Christijan has started to find some form in the car, but the team’s ambitious development program has been seriously compromised by nonpayment by one of his sponsors and we are faced with no other option,” he said.