McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh has admitted that despite assurances to the contrary, he fears for the future of the BMW Sauber team.

Less than two months after BMW announced its decision to leave F1, the German manufacturer announced that an agreement had been reached which saw Qadbak Investments Ltd, a Swiss-based foundation which represents the interests of certain Middle East and European based families, purchase the team.

However, two weeks after the deal was announced, Pitpass reported that a number employees of the team had contacted it expressing their concern.

"We have been told that there will be no job losses or redundancies as the team passes to the new owners Qadbak Investments," wrote one. "This is good news, however, there is not really a good feeling. Nobody knows who these 'investors' are. The sale of a team that doesn't have a confirmed grid place next year to an almost anonymous buyer (that hasn't even confirmed that they have bought the team by way of a press release) is weird, even by F1 standards."

To add to the mystery/concern it was also revealed that a "key figure" in the deal is Russell King, who describes himself as an "adviser" to the mysterious Qadbak.

Other than his involvement with Essentially Sport, the management company he ran with John Byfield, which was at the core of 2004's 'Buttongate', King was also linked with the 2004 buy-out of the Jordan F1 team and plans for Team Dubai to enter the sport in 2006, a project which at one stage was said to have the approval of Ron Dennis.

And it is King who is at the heart of Whitmarsh's concern. Asked about Qadbak and the "key figure" in the plan, Whitmarsh told journalists in Suzuka: "I think you're referring to Russell King, and I have to say I started being concerned for Sauber when I heard his name."

It is understood the matter was discussed at a meeting of FOTA on Sunday morning, however, with the BMW F1 team's parent company having agreed the deal, and no doubt having done all the relevant checks, they are powerless to do or say anything at this time.