Grapevine: Silly Season Update

Despite few available seats at the top Formula One teams, the 2001 'silly season' is already moving at full speed and the rumours concerning the future of several drivers are now constant.

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve and Finn Mika Hakkinen are at the moment the drivers making the headlines. The British American Racing driver, who openly admitted he is considering other options for 2002 but who confessed his inclination to stay at BAR, is tipped for Hakkinen's seat at McLaren should the two-time World Champion leave the Woking-based team.

Villeneuve is free to leave BAR at the end of 2001 should he find any appealing options, and with Coulthard rumoured to be set to stay at McLaren, the possible move to the British team depends on Hakkinen's - or team boss Ron Dennis' - decision.

But Villeneuve's future could also belong to the Jaguar team, whose boss Bobby Rahal admitted recently had his team was interested in the Canadian for 2003.

"An approach was made by Niki Lauda because he wanted to know exactly what Jacques' position was," Rahal told Autosport. "We had a 'What are you doing, what is your situation' chat, but that is it. Our drivers, Eddie Irvine and Pedro de la Rosa, are set for next year, so there’s no seat for 2002."

Hakkinen, who has struggled with all sorts of problems at McLaren this season, is realistically set to stay with the team he has been at nine years. With the two seats confirmed both at Ferrari and Williams, it is unlikely that the Finn will have a chance of winning anywhere else. He has made it clear that he is not thinking about retirement just yet, but if it's Dennis who decides to let him go, the option could become more serious.

The Benetton team seem to be one of the main sources of rumours during the silly season. Briton Jenson Button has been under fire due to his poor performance this year but despite all the speculation he is expected to stay at the Enstone-based team for one more year. However, the 21-year old is also rumoured to have been talking to Jaguar in order to drive for them in 2003 now that his return to Williams seems unlikely.

Meanwhile, Australian Mark Webber seems to be moving closer to make his Formula One debut next season after reports in the British press suggests the Benetton team have decided to take up an option to retain his services for the 2002 season.

Though it is highly unlikely that the test driver will replace either Button or Giancarlo Fisichella next season at Benetton, Webber is thought to be using the Flavio Briatore link to land a seat with Prost or even with Minardi - owned by compatriot Paul Stoddart - for 2002.