SEPTEMBER 16, 2004

Liuzzi will run

Vitantonio Liuzzi will test for Sauber today at Jerez de la Frontera, despite the fact that the Italian youngster had been expecting the test to be a chance to impress the team and convince them that he should be signed up for next year. It seems that the decision to sign Jacques Villeneuve was taken very quickly and one must assume that the decision was influenced by outside factors as Sauber had told Liuzzi that he was in with a chance of the drive. What caused Sauber to make up his mind is not clear at the moment although there is a suspicion that Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, a big supporter of Jacques Villeneuve, may have been involved and that perhaps Villeneuve only agreed to go to Renault to help out Flavio Briatore on the understanding that he had a solid job for next year.