Fisichella Could Test for Ferrari, Says Sauber

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella could test for Ferrari next year now that he has joined Sauber, team boss Peter Sauber said on Tuesday.

Fisichella, 30, is highly-rated but has never driven for a top team during his 123-race career.

The Roman, who tested for Ferrari in 1996 when he also made his debut with Minardi, moved to Ferrari-powered Sauber from Jordan in October. Before that he was with Benetton.

"The situation is open," Sauber said of the testing position after he opened the team's new $55 million wind tunnel in Hinwil. "It has not yet been discussed but in principle it is possible."

Sauber are the only team on the grid to use customer Ferrari engines, re-named as Petronas after their Malaysian sponsor, and have signed Brazilian Felipe Massa to partner Fisichella. Massa, who raced for Sauber in 2002, was their reserve driver this year while also testing for Ferrari.

Fisichella, who won this year's Brazilian Grand Prix for Jordan, has long harboured a desire to join Ferrari and saw his move to Sauber as a stepping stone in the right direction.

The Italian said in March that it was the right time for Ferrari to have an Italian driver after years of dominance with Germany's Michael Schumacher.

"To hear this news was very pleasing," Fisichella told Gazzetta dello Sport today. "To jump into a Ferrari has always been my dream, and if this will happen thanks to the will of Sauber and Ferrari, you can be sure that I'll pay back their trust with the maximum effort and responsibility."

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello is teammate to six times World Champion Schumacher but has a contract only until the end of next year. Ferrari have Italian Luca Badoer as their contracted test driver.

Team president Luca di Montezemolo said last week that it would be possible to test with the Sauber drivers in 2004.

"Giancarlo Fisichella and Felipe Massa work for a team very close to us, not only because we provide them with the engine and gearbox, but also on a human relationships basis," he said.