Fisi may take midfield gamble in 2004

Fisichella has been linked to both WilliamsF1 and Ferrari at one point or another this year, but currently there are no open seats in the top three teams for next year and Fisichella is faced with either sticking it out with the under-financed Jordan-Ford team or selecting another midfield runner with links to the big guns. The 30-year-old visited Sauber, which uses customer Ferrari engines, at its Hinwil factory in the week before the British GP.

"I went to see the new wind tunnel which is amazing, maybe it is the best now in F1," Fisichella said. "Sauber is not McLaren, Williams or Ferrari but they have got the Ferrari engine which is maybe good for the future.

"I've not signed, I didn't talk about contracts or anything but it could be one option for next year. BAR, Jaguar, Toyota...I have to talk and see the best options not just for next year, but especially for the future. Even Jordan could be good if they have the Mercedes engine and there is a possibility to go to McLaren in 2005.

"I just want to race with a team with a possibility to move in 2005 into one of the best teams. If it's not possible then maybe I will stay two or three years with the same team.

As an Italian driver Fischella's dream has long been to drive for Ferrari: "It's my target. The car is very good and maybe now is the time to give the car to an Italian driver. It is not just a passion, I really want to drive a good car. I want to win. It could be McLaren or Ferrari but I want the option to go there."

Ferrari sporting director Jean Todt refused to speculate on whether racing with Ferrari customer engines might aid Fisichella's chances of driving for the world champions. "You know we have a lot of drivers under contract, so why should we change?" he said. "We respect contracts, that is number one. Michael has a contract until the end of 2006 and Rubens until the end of '04. And we are not going to commit with somebody else before a certain time."