Sauber Hopefulls
Written by George Katinger · September 3, 2004
Peter Sauber has expressed a desire to find a young aggressive driver to put in the seat of the departing Fisichella. High on the list is Vitantonio Liuzzi.
grandprix.com: Sauber plans test with Liuzzi
While the reigning F3000 champ certainly deserves a test, Sauber also states they will be testing as yet unnamed drivers at dates to be determined. I certainly hope they would give some consideration to testing Sebastian Bourdais of the Champ Car series.
Sebastian has been nothing short of spectacular this year, able to put down fast laps almost at will, like a certain other driver currently dominating F1. I know what you’re thinking; yeah right, another American series open wheel racer who will fall on his face, ala Michael Andretti and Christiano da Matta. For all the failures of Champ Car style racers attempts to crack F1, there have been some successes such as Mario Andretti, Jacques Villeneuve and Juan Pablo Montoya.
And unless you’ve seen Bourdais race, you don’t know what you’re missing. Aggressive is an understatement. And at age 22 he has the time to hone off the rough edges and be a champion in F1. If all the stars are in alignment and the right spot in the right team is available. Why not sign him up at “Ferrari Light” as Sauber is sometimes derisevly called, and get some seat time before moving up to a top team? Maybe even Ferrari when the current drivers eventually bale out in 2006.
Whoever signs Bourdais will not be disappointed in his speed, tenacity or willingness to put down a pass, in the style of JPM. And he is French to boot. How this guy escaped the clutches of Renault is beyond me. Oh, thats right, they are run by Flavio Briatorre, who won’t race anyone unless they are “his” drivers, as in personal management contracts. What a potential loss!!
According to today’s Autosport Top Story and several other F1 website reports, the “young, wild driver” being sought for Sauber may well be the on again-off again Jacques Villeneuve.
Autosport: “Speculation is growing that former world champion Jacques Villeneuve will return to Formula 1 next season with sources claiming the French-Canadian is on the verge of signing a performance-related two-year deal with Sauber.”
According to reports, Sauber is still planning to test some Young Guns, but that may be for a 3rd driver seat if today’s reports are correct. There are also reports that Massa may be on the way out, despite the fact he’s got a deal for next year. With the exception of Spa, Massa has not really impressed. That would open a seat for a “young, wild driver.”