Bernoldi commited to Red Bull

Bernoldi, Sauber's test driver for this year, looked to have been jumped in the queue for a race seat with the Swiss team by hotshoe Kimi Raikkonen. Problems with the young Finn's super licence however, mean that Bernoldi could still find himself in F1.

If not, the Brazilian will stay in F3000, and has pledged his allegiance to the Red Bull Junior Team, which he has driven for since 1999. However, the 22-year-old's recent testing pace has made him a hot property with top teams such as the Petrobras outfit which took Bruno Junqueira to the title this year.

"Petrobras is a great team and has better results than Red Bull," said Bernoldi, "but we have a good relationship. I have a Red Bull contract and it is my first option. We are improving and growing together and have the potential to fight for the title."

The Red Bull squad won the 1996 F3000 title in its former guise as the RSM Marko team, but has never managed to recreate the form of that year. Bernoldi has scored just seven points during his two years with the Austrian outfit, but he has not given up on graduating to F1.

"I have my hopes," he said. "I am confident in myself and I trust Red Bull. It depends on them and Sauber."