By Jamie Makin
June 4 2004

There is no doubt that Jaun Pablo Montoya's move to McLaren for next year and the resulting vacancy at Williams have been the center of this year's silly season chatter in the paddock. The interest is further heightened by the likelihood of Ralf Schumacher's pending departure, creating a two empty race seats at Williams.

SAUBER PETRONAS star, Giancarlo Fisichella, is one of a dozen or so drivers reported to be on the Grove-based team's list to steer their BMW-powered racers next year. Although he has raced in Formula One since 1995 and is regarded as one of the sport's most talented drivers, Fisichella has always been overlooked by the top teams. His move to Sauber for this season was admittedly to get closer to Ferrari, who provide Sauber with engines and other technical assistance. Sauber gave him the opportunity to go head-to-head with Ferrari's test driver and young protege, Felipe Massa, in an attempt to prove his worthiness of a top drive to the Italian marque.

Fisichella entered a two-year contract with the Swiss-based Sauber team at the start of this season, but did so with the understanding that he would be free to leave should a top team show interest in his services. Peter Sauber loosely acknowledged this was the agreement, but recently seems to have backpedaled on that statement. The first snag became evident at the Thursday press conference prior to the European Grand Prix, where Peter hinted at a snaffu in the plans for Fisichella to test for Ferrari at some point this season. "Yeah, it is a small problem, but it is an internal problem," Peter said, but refused to elaborate."

Fisichella has made no secret of his dreams to drive for the Scuderia, but Ferrari has shown little to no interest in having the Italian join their team. If anything, they seem interested in developing younger talent such as Felipe Massa or Kimi Raikkonen when either Michael Schumacher or Rubens Barrichello decides to hang up their helmet. Fisichella career is entering it's later years, and while Ferrari remains his dream, he would likely now jump ship to any top team who makes him an offer. "If [Frank Williams] wants me I am sure he will call," Fisichella told Atlas F1.

In response, Peter Sauber publically expressed his wishes for Fisichella to remain at Sauber. "Giancarlo could have a lot more - he can aim for Ferrari," Sauber said to Gazzetta dello Sport. "If Maranello called him, I'd tell him to go straight away. But as far as Williams are concerned, I don't think their drivers are very happy this season."

Why do both Fisichella and Sauber seem to be singling out Williams as a likely move? Recent days have heard whisperings that Mark Webber, considered to be the top choice at Williams, may be exploring options at Jaguar, Renault or Toyota instead. Williams have made it clear they are looking for an experienced driver for next year, and Fisichella fits that bill better than most of the other candidates.

Peter Sauber seemes clearly concerned that he is about to lose his treasured driver to Williams. If negotiations are underway, it could easily explain the "internal problem" keeping Fisichella away from Ferrari at the moment. But, the other perplexing twist on this was a remark by Sauber in the absense of a Ferrari drive, that Fisichella would be better off at Sauber than Williams. "Our team is on the rise," Sauber told Gazzetta dello Sport, "and I think Fisichella could easily stay with us. At least I really wish so."

The recent shakeup in Williams management and the growing friction between their two drivers hint at some serious troubles within the team. Could these troubles run deeper than the team's disappointing results on track this year indicate? Or does Sauber have quiet plans to compete among the ranks of the top teams in the very near future?

As with most issues in the Sauber team, this one is being kept under very heavy wraps for the moment, but will be one story worth watching as the season progresses. In the interim, another rumour has surfaces regarding Fisichella and this one centers around him being offered to race a Maserati in the FIA GT Championship. The Trident marque's new MC12 GT is a race car based on the Ferrari Enzo and is expected to be highly competitive in it's debut season. Fisichella would partner former Sauber and Ferrari driver Mika Salo in the race at Imola on September 5, 2004.

"I'm available and very interested," Fisichella told Italian magazine Il Resto del Carlino. This one race deal would be a step in the right direction for him achieving his dream of getting closer to Ferrari. The race occurs on an off-weekend for Formula One and Fisichella would have no schedule conflict with it. It appears all he needs is the blessing of the Sauber team to make this dream a reality for him.

Fisichella raced touring cars for Alfa Romeo in the early days of his career, and even made a one-off appearance with them in Monza, Italy last season. The Maserati drive would be another noteworthy experience with a Ferrari-affiliated team. You have to wonder if Peter Sauber is onto something and is trying to tell Fisichella that a Ferrari drive is still on the cards for him.

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