Nick Heidfeld was not pushed out of his Venturi Formula E seat, as intimated yesterday by a report at Spiegel Online, but has chosen to move to another team.

“It was entirely Nick’s decision to leave Venturi,” we were told today by a source close to the Monaco-based team (which has since replaced Heidfeld with former F1 world champ Jacques Villeneuve) and which other sources in the paddock have confirmed. “I’m not sure exactly what all the reasons are but it was definitely Nick’s choice. There was no pushing out by the team.”

The popular German driver suffered an extraordinary run of misfortune in the maiden Formula E season, beginning with a catastrophic crash while challenging for the lead of the first ever Formula E race. However, his ambitions within the electric sport remain undimmed.

“Nick will be staying in Formula E,” our source went on. “There will be an announcement made in the next few days.”

While the identity of Heidfeld’s new team remains under wraps, it is one of Formula E’s new constructors that has lured him out of the black, red and white Venturi cars. That means that Heidfeld’s move is likely to be strategic, based on where he thinks he will find a stronger season two powertrain package and stronger race operations.

Current E will have a trackside team at every day of preseason testing at Donington Park. Stay tuned for all the latest news.