Grapevine: Silly Season Update from Germany

With several 2003 driver positions being confirmed over the last week, the moves market is becoming a little clearer as the races go by.

Both Ferrari and McLaren now remain the same, as, it is believed, will Williams. Renault have confirmed Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso, while Nick Heidfeld has been confirmed by Sauber and it is unlikely that teammate Felipe Massa will leave.

BAR have secured Jenson Button and will take either Jacques Villeneuve or Olivier Panis as his teammate, so that leaves Toyota as the place filled with most speculation.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen looks a possibility to replace Allan McNish if the Scot is given the boot now that other contenders Heidfeld and Alexander Wurz (McLaren tester) have been confirmed elsewhere, but Jordan may have a spot if Takuma Sato is ditched and Frentzen could fill that space (in a deal brokered by Deutsche Post), leaving Toyota clear to bring in Cristiano da Matta from CART.

Jaguar will retain Pedro de la Rosa, while there remains speculation over Eddie Irvine, who could retire to make way for Aussie Mark Webber, who has already tested for the team, although he could also be of interest to Toyota. One (or both) of Minardi and Arrows may not survive into next season and, if that is the case, then two or four top teams could be allowed to run three cars each.

If that is the case, McLaren have confirmed they will run Wurz and BAR may try to run Panis, while other teams have not offered any hints as to their position on the three-car matter. If Arrows survive, in whatever guise, then Enrique Bernoldi is likely to remain there because of his links with Red Bull, with possibly an American driver, such as Richard Antinucci, filling the second seat.