Lopez and Chandhok in the frame at Campos

RichardsF1    Driver Market, Formula 1     Bruno Senna, Campos, Jose Maria Lopez, Karun Chandhok

The final seat at Campos looks set to be a choice between the one-eyebrowed Karun Chandhok and José Mariá López. And, as ever with this beleaguered team, the driver with the biggest wallet will probably get the nod…

Having recently undergone a management takeover to shore up its future, Campos appears in a much better position than USF1 to make the grid at Bahrain.

López – currently signed to USF1 – has been at the centre of rumours linking him with a switch to Campos, along with the American team’s principal backer, YouTube.

López bought earned his drive with USF1 armed with some US$8M in bribes sponsorship and government backing from his native Argentina, which will look nice if it lines the coffers of Campos.

Chandhok too is armed with his own sponsorship portfolio, and his appointment would see the second Indian driver to compete in F1, after Narain Karthikeyan. Given that India is a burgeoning commercial market for F1, and looks set to host its first Grand Prix in 2011, his appointment at Campos certainly wouldn’t hurt either.

Which leaves the team’s current signed driver, Bruno Senna, as the meat in the sandwich. Senna – nephew to the great Ayrton – was announced as being signed to the team last year, but also came with no sponsorship, with the team clearly hoping that the Senna name would be enough of a drawcard to bring sponsors beating down its doors.

With funding the linchpin in Campos’ future, could we see Senna ousted from the team in favour of the appointment of these two well-heeled drivers?

Newly appointed team dentist boss Colin Kolles has refused to confirm Senna’s ongoing role when contacted on Thursday, say only that the team’s line-up would be confirmed “soon”.

Senna’s manager, Chris Goodwin, told the BBC: "There’s no reason to think Bruno won’t be part of it. It’s clear as far as we’re concerned. He signed a contract in October and he’ll be in the car this season."

Methinks the Senna family might have to get the chequebook out to keep dear Bruno safe!