Sauber in No Rush to Finalise 2005 Line-Up

Formula One team owner Peter Sauber said on Wednesday that he is not under pressure to rush into a decision on his driver line-up for 2005.

The Swiss team are looking for a partner for Brazilian Felipe Massa after Italian Giancarlo Fisichella said before last week's Hungarian Grand Prix he will move to Renault next year.

But Sauber, who discovered Finn Kimi Raikkonen in 2001 before selling him to McLaren in 2002, believes he has the time to make a careful choice.

"We're under no pressure whatsoever and that's why I'm taking my time," Sauber said. "I've not even decided yet whether we will select a young talented or an experienced driver. One thing is obvious though. There's a huge interest in Sauber and, for me, this is a clear sign that we're a highly attractive team today."

BAR-Honda, who are third in the World Championship, are expected to have a vacancy after Briton Jenson Button signed for Williams next year, although the move is being contested and is yet to be officially confirmed.

The possible seat at BAR is now the most sought after for 2005 though sixth-placed Sauber are also a tempting destination given they use the engines of World Champions Ferrari. Briton David Coulthard, who will leave McLaren at the end of the year, and compatriot BAR-Honda test driver Anthony Davidson are both interested.

Sauber, however, is more concerned with finishing this year and is confident his drivers will continue to perform well.

"Giancarlo is a full-blooded racer with impeccable, professional conduct," said Sauber. "I'm convinced he'll be clinching quite a few more good results for our team before the season is over.

"Felipe is doing a very good job with us, too, but he has simply been struck by an incredible amount of bad luck in the last few races. That's the way things are in sport at times. What counts, though, is that you don't give up."