Minardi decision on Wilson imminent

The ex-Formula 3000 champion had a seat fitting with the Minardi team in Italy at the weekend. A deal rests on whether engineers and designers believe they can modify the 2003 tub to make six foot three inch Wilson fit comfortably in the car.

"The seat fitting went okay," Wilson told Autosport.com. "Now they are looking to see how much they need to modify the car. They are going to discuss it and see what is viable, then they will speak to us later this week."

"Something will happen one way or the other this week."

Wilson is travelling to Brazil on Tuesday to race in the Dallara-Nissan World Series, which has back-to-back rounds at Curitiba and Interlagos. He will learn his F1 fate over the phone from manager Jonathan Palmer.

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart has made it clear that Wilson is his first choice, but added: "I need to know that he isn't just cramming himself into the car and will be crippled with agony after a few racing laps. It will be too late to find that out 10 laps into the first Grand Prix in Melbourne."

Wilson missed out on racing for Minardi in Hungary and Belgium this year when the team could not make him fit in the PS02 chassis. Fellow Brit Anthony Davidson took the drive instead.