Massa gets second Sauber test

Massa tested for the team before the US Grand Prix and impressed them by lapping faster than Ferrari's Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello managed at a test at the same venue in August. He completed 530km in the two-day test, but has been invited back for a further three-day stint behind the wheel at Mugello this week.

"The first test was a very good opportunity for me and now they have invited me back," Massa told Autosport.com. "I'm looking forward to it. My aim is to do the best I can each day. Mugello has some very fast corners which makes it difficult for my neck, but I got the feeling for the car very fast, so I'm happy to go back to it."

Sauber is on the search for a new driver as its wonderkid of 2001, Kimi Raikkonen, was bought out of his contract by McLaren for 2002.

Team boss Peter Sauber is understood to have been so impressed by Massa's first test that a race deal for the 20-year-old could be on the table.