Jordan the Best Option for Fisichella, Says Manager

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella could stay with Jordan for the 2004 season after his manager Enrico Zanarini said that the cash-strapped team are currently his best option.

Fisichella has made no secret of the fact he is dissatisfied with Jordan's current performance and has already visited the Sauber factory to look at their facilities.

Zanarini said that all the top four teams are locked out for next season and told Atlas F1: "Jordan is probably the strongest option at the moment. The aim is to stay one more year in a smaller team and target 2005 when the top seats open up.

"There are about five seats available for next season and we are speaking to all teams but have not made up our mind yet. Some possibilities are not defined yet so we are waiting.

"Giancarlo's contract with Jordan expires at the end of the year so he will be a free agent but there is not any big movement in the top four teams at the moment."

Fisichella had been linked to a place with Williams after rumours suggested their Colombian driver Juan Pablo Montoya could be snatched by rivals McLaren for next season after an alleged disagreement over team strategy.

Williams have insisted Montoya is on contract until 2004 and said they hope he will honour that contract, and Zanarini said he believes that a move is unlikely to happen.

"I read it all and it is strange," said Zanarini. "At the beginning of the year I made sure all teams knew of Giancarlo's contractual position and I had been told they were not free.

"Williams explained to me that his two drivers are contracted to the end of 2004 and there was no room. I have to go back to him when the situation changes but I have not spoken to them since."