Door open at Williams

Autosport sources have revealed Schumacher's contract with Toyota is subject only to final approval in Japan, which would mean two vacancies in Williams' 2005 race team. With Jenson Button out of the frame due to his watertight BAR contract, insiders have indicated that Coulthard, Fisichella and Villeneuve are the three favoured options to join Webber - understood to be at the very top of its shopping list.

Villeneuve and Coulthard are known to have discussions with Williams, and the Canadian - who won the world championship with the team in 1997 - has begun a new programme with long-time fitness trainer Erwin Gollner. His manager, Craig Pollock, has said that Villeneuve was in fact training in Monaco when reports of him attending a test at Paul Ricard spread like wildfire earlier this week.

If it cannot secure the services of two of it's 'A-list' drivers, another four - Scott Dixon, Marc Gene, Nick Heidfeld and Antonio Pizzonia - would be considered for race seats.