Engine boost for Sauber

Nick Heidfeld and Felipe Massa finished fourth and fifth at Barcelona last time out to draw Sauber level with Renault on eight points, and another strong result this weekend will move the Swiss team back into the fourth position it secured last year.

"I'm looking forward to Austria," said Heidfeld. "It's a low-grip track and it's the kind that suits our car. I am looking for a good result. I hope it will be possible after the success we had recently in Barcelona."

The A1-Ring has been kind to Sauber in the past. Kimi Raikkonen finished fourth there last year, and the team has scored points on its last three visits. Jean Alesi claimed the Sauber's only front row starting position to date for the 1998 GP, although he failed to finish the race.

In testing at Valencia last week Felipe Massa was close to the pace of McLaren and the young Brazilian is gunning for his third points finish in just his sixth F1 race.

"I'm feeling really positive after Barcelona, and I know the A1-Ring well from past testing there in my Formula 3 days," Massa said. "I'm looking forward to another strong race."

Ferrari completed its Austrian GP preparations on Monday as Luca Badoer shook down the three chassis the team will be taking to Spielberg. The Italian did a total of 21 laps setting a best time of 1m00.225s.