Grapevine: Webber to Williams, Fisichella to Renault

Williams are set to announce Mark Webber as their 2005 driver shortly after the German Grand Prix, in a move that will also see Italian Giancarlo Fisichella return to Renault next year.

According to Australian magazine Motorsport News, Webber's long anticipated switch from Jaguar to the Grove-based team is part of simultaneous negotiations that will see him and Fisichella sign deals with Williams and Renault respectively over the next couple of days.

The magazine reports that Webber's contract manager and Renault team chief Flavio Briatore, who agreed to let Webber switch to his preferred team, was keen on finding a suitable replacement for Webber as Fernando Alonso's teammate for 2005. Reportedly, Briatore had run out of patience with Jarno Trulli's contract demands, and the Italian's main hopes for next year now appear to lie with Toyota.

Fisichella left Benetton/Renault after the 2001 season, moving to Jordan, after he failed to come to terms with Briatore over a new contract. He moved to Sauber this year, but the Italian is believed to have a clause in his contract that allows him to leave the Swiss-based team next year if he obtains a ride in one of the top teams.

Webber, who joined Jaguar in 2003, is expected to sign a multi-year deal with Williams that will commence in January 2005 - quashing rumours that he may have had the balance of his 2004 contract bought out early, in order to replace injured Ralf Schumacher.

Williams have yet to choose the second driver for their 2005 line up, but paddock rumours suggest Nick Heidfeld remains a strong candidate for the seat.

The 2005 line up is set to have the biggest reshuffle of racing seats in years: McLaren, Williams, Renault, Sauber, Jaguar, Toyota and possibly Jordan and Minardi are all set to have at least one driver replaced, and only Ferrari and BAR are expected to keep the same line up as this year's.