Ralf: Fisichella Not Set for Williams Seat

Williams-BMW will not sign Italian Giancarlo Fisichella for 2005, according to Ralf Schumacher - the man he is being linked to replace.

Schumacher, who will join Toyota next season, insisted Fisichella is not on Williams' hit-list as they search to appoint two drivers for next year with Juan Pablo Montoya also departing for McLaren.

Sauber driver Fisichella has been linked with a seat with Williams along with Jaguar's Australian Mark Webber, but Schumacher said he does not expect the Italian to get his job.

"Giancarlo, he won't come here, but I know he is trying to change teams and come to a top team," said Schumacher of Fisichella, who has also been rumoured to be returning to former team Renault.

"He really deserves a chance in a top team, he is a very good driver and he has a lot of experience, so if he is in a strong car we will see a lot of strong races from him."

Schumacher, who is sidelined with a back injury, has watched Williams' test drivers Marc Gene and Antonio Pizzonia deputise for him and he believes the pair should be considered for race seats in 2005.

"I think Antonio we have to wait but Marc did a good job," Schumacher said. "It is a bit unfair. He is used to testing and racing is something totally different.

"He is a very nice person, he tried his best, obviously didn't really succeed in qualifying for whatever reason and to really push in that one lap is not so easy, he is not used to that.

"If he had been in better positions after qualifying I am sure we would have seen much stronger races from him. I don't know how big his chance is for next year now.

"You have to say team owners will have watched him and seen him drive not so good so it is going to be difficult, but he is a very good driver, no doubt.

"And for Antonio, he has always been blindingly quick in testing and I expected him to do a really good job at Jaguar. But he had some problems and we will find out this weekend how good he is because I reckon this is the first time that he has had a similar package to his teammate.

"I doubt that when he was at Jaguar they were able to supply two similar cars, but he is going to be sure he has a similar package here so we will see."