F1 silly season gathers pace

Fisichella, who is now 31, is overdue a drive in a top team and has been watched closely by Frank Williams this year. He did himself a power of good with a fine drive into sixth place in the British Grand Prix, finishing right on the tail of Juan Pablo Montoya. Frank Williams made a point of congratulating him before leaving the circuit on Sunday evening.

Fisichella's Sauber contract is understood to allow him to leave if he is offered a drive in one of F1's three leading teams, but it is believed that these are specifically named as being Ferrari, Williams and McLaren, rather than following this year's constructors championship, which is currently headed by Ferrari, Renault and BAR Honda.

There is also a complication in that despite his many impressive performances for Renault this year, Jarno Trulli's seat in the team still seems to be under threat. The team was not impressed by Trulli surrendering third place so tamely at Magny Cours a week ago and the word is that Jarno's reckoning of his financial worth is somewhat at odds with that of his team. Trulli is also believed to have been talking to Toyota, which has one potential seat available alongside Ralf Schumacher next year.

If Flavio Briatore does not re-sign Trulli to partner Fernando Alonso, it is thought that he may put either French test driver Franck Montagny in the car, or try to lure Fisichella back to the team. Renault, though, is not one of the teams to which Fisichella can be automatically released.

If Briatore is chasing Fisichella and Sauber needs to be compensated for his loss, then either Briatore or Frank Williams might have to put their hands in their pockets, something Frank has been reluctant to do over time where drivers are concerned. It is also worth remembering that Briatore also controls the career of Mark Webber, who many believe has already concluded an agreement with Williams for next year.

Jaguar, having changed drivers mid-season last year, is unlikely to do a similar thing where Webber is concerned, when it is still chasing as many constructors championship points as it can get. For the same reason, Peter Sauber is unlikely to want to release Fisichella early.

Williams is also anxious to score constructors points and has said that Ralf Schumacher could conceivably be back in the cockpit in time for the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 15. Eddie Jordan is also known to be keen to hawk Nick Heidfeld's services to BMW Williams.

If or when Fisichella does leave Sauber, David Coulthard is seen as a likely candidate for the Swiss team, although Peter Sauber has shown a willingness to blood talented young drivers over recent seasons. David Robertson, who manages Kimi Raikkonen along with son Steve, and now has a 50% stake in Anthony Davidson, was seen waiting patiently for an audience with Peter Sauber at Silverstone...