Fisichella Hopeful of Landing Williams Seat

Sauber driver Giancarlo Fisichella says he is still hopeful of landing a racing seat with the Williams team next season.

The British squad will have one, and most likely two, seats available next year, with Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya leaving for McLaren and German Ralf Schumacher poised to move to the Toyota team.

Fisichella said he was hoping to land one of the seats, despite a trend from British teams not to hire Italian drivers.

"This is something that should be asked to Ferrari first of all," Fisichella told Gazzetta dello Sport when asked why British teams avoided Italian drivers. "If they don't want Italians, why should the others want them?

"But now there are two vacant places at Williams, so I keep on hoping."

Fisichella said he was also looking forward to test for the Ferrari team this season.

"I'm still here waiting for it [the test]. Apparently there are sponsorship troubles: Ferrari use Shell fuel, while Sauber use Petronas," said the Italian, whose teammate Felipe Massa, managed by Jean Todt's son, has already tested for the World Champions since he joined Sauber.

"Massa is under the watchful eye of Ferrari, but going faster than him is, for me, even more important, as it puts me even more under the spotlight," Fisichella added.

The 31-year old said he would accept a Ferrari offer right away, even if it meant being number two to World Champion Michael Schumacher.

"Today I'd accept that immediately and I would also slow down, if they asked me to. After all time goes by for Schumacher and he can't carry on racing forever," he said.