Paffett and Albers Won't Test for Sauber

F3000 Champ Liuzzi
By Jamie Makin
September 18 2004

The surprise signing of Jacques Villeneuve this week has left SAUBER hopefuls Vitantonio Liuzzi, Anthony Davidson, Gary Paffett and Christijan Albers looking for other options. What prospects remain for them?

SAUBER had plans to test DTM stars Gary Paffett and Christijan Albers at an undetermined date later this season. The test is now unnecessary and will not take place. McLaren-Mercedes has expressed interest in Paffett and Jordan in Albers, so there is some hope for them at those teams. Most likely they will have to bide their time in DTM though and wait for an F1 opportunity to arise later on.

Formula 3000 Champion Vitantonio Liuzzi did get his promised test for SAUBER at Jerez on Thursday, just one day after the Villeneuve deal was announced. The test went well and he could still become SAUBER's test driver if the team decides to finally hire one. A testing role at Ferrari is also still in the realm of possibility. His more promising option seemed to be to replace Christian Klien at Jaguar with Red Bull's backing but that possibility fizzled out with yesterday's announcement that Jaguar will withdraw from F1 at the end of the season. Unless Red Bull purchases the Jaguar team, it looks unlikely that Liuzzi will land a race seat next season.

BAR-Honda test driver Anthony Davidson seemed to be homing in on a Jaguar drive before the announcement of their withdrawal was made. At one time Davidson was a favourite to land the SAUBER drive but now he may have to be content to stay at BAR. Losing the SAUBER deal has not upset him at all. "I'm not disappointed though," he told Autosport. "Sauber was probably my third choice and it felt a bit cold there in some meetings." Davidson still has a chance to move to a race seat at BAR-Honda if Jenson Button is allowed to move to Williams.

---