This week's Grapevine brings you information fresh from the paddock on: Wilson's Star Rising Sauber Soldier On

Wilson's Star Rising

The Silly Season is a protracted affair in Formula One, but around the time things start to get slow, the speculation changes gear accordingly. After a processional race in France and some pretty standard testing days, the rumours are starting to build about who is signing what for the future.

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart is about to drop his objection to the changes for next season that will increase the surface areas available on the cars to sponsors: it is pending final confirmation of an ongoing engine deal that should see "competitive customer" units available to the teams for a little over $10 million dollars a season. It means he can afford to guarantee Justin Wilson a seat next year – though his budget would look better if he is sold to another team, to make room for another pay-driver. The Minardi driver has done enough so far to have generated interest from at least BAR and Jaguar for potential driving roles, and Williams as a test driver. The friction between Stoddart and Ron Dennis appears to have ruled out McLaren's interests in the Briton in a testing role, though Peter Sauber is reputed to have asked his design team the cost of making next year's car accommodate the youngster.

Although there is nothing confirmed, the most popular view is that Antonio Pizzonia has not done enough to keep his drive another year. The Brazilian has been overdriving in an attempt to get close to Mark Webber's performance, and continues to miss the mark, especially in qualifying. Despite being consistently slower than Jos Verstappen in qualifying, Wilson's electrifying starts have been raising eyebrows: with the launch control ban coming in to place next year, a fast starter is a huge asset. Accordingly, Jaguar is supposed to have approached Wilson for his services next year, and are attempting to establish both the value of his contract with Stoddart, and agree remuneration.

Similarly, despite Craig Pollock's attempts to drum up interest in Jacques Villeneuve, the Canadian's tough season to date does not impress the masses. Unless he drops his salary demands, he will not be in Formula One next season. From the current drivers, BAR has interests in Wilson or Nick Heidfeld to fill the role, though they are also considering numerous youngsters including Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson.

Sauber are not currently expected to keep both drivers for next season. There are no sponsorship benefits from having two drivers who come from the same place, and besides, performances this year have not been anything to write home about. Dropping Nick Heidfeld for Ferrari test driver Felipe Massa is the most speculated upon anticipated transition for next year, but it doesn't change the issue of ascertaining the cost of making sure the cockpit can take someone of Wilson's stature. It could mean that both drivers are on their way, or that Massa is not headed to Sauber.

Of course, until a deal is signed and delivered, there is no guarantee, but it looks like those who bought a stake and gambled on Wilson making it in Formula One don't have to write their investment off for at least another year!

Sauber Soldier On

The season has not been kind to Sauber. Engines have been unreliable, drivers have missed opportunities, rivals have scored lucky wins and their tyre company has been surprisingly off form. All told, it has left the team looking surprisingly below par.

It is not all doom and gloom. The chassis is a solid improvement on last year's efforts, even if the competition did make bigger strides. The opening race of the season saw Heinz-Harald Frentzen score points, a feat repeated in Brazil: the result of driver skill in a good chassis making the most of adverse conditions and good tactical acumen by the team. However, these results were only hiding problems with a finicky chassis that can be set up for a good balance, or good speed. Attaining both together consistently requires more time than the team are getting in the weekends practice sessions.

Adding to Sauber's woes, the engine which was apparently performing well and was reliable in last year's Ferrari is prone to failing when the full power is exploited, or has to be run without the benefits of the top 400 rpm. Of course, it helps that last year the Ferrari package was so dominant that they never ran flat out for a whole race, and could afford to run with extra cooling, so the engine was not stressed as it is when raced in a Sauber. Had the competition been good enough to push them, as in previous years, then it is likely that Ferrari would been experiencing these engine problems last year, and fixed them before handing the engine on to Sauber.

Having managed to bring Frentzen – who is known for being able to develop cars – on board for a surprisingly reasonable salary, it made sense to budget for in-season improvements, and there were a raft slotted into the plans for the Silverstone Grand Prix. If all is on schedule, then the aerodynamics will gain a useful step forward, helping to reduce the set-up time and rear tyre wear. Changes to the engine's ancillary systems – which include at least a refinement to the management software, plus an updated oil pump and improved cooling – and an improved quality control program during their assembly should improve reliability without compromising the top end rev limit. The team have been working with Ferrari on revising the front suspension geometry to reduce graining – though this change might not be ready to race until Italy.

With so many teams seeing Silverstone as their home event, especially as the testing ban is pending, most aim to bring on a good update here. For Sauber, that means that the updates could see their effort amounting to little more than standing still against their rivals.

The bottom line, however, is the team is completely dependant on the progress that Bridgestone makes to resolving their performance deficit against Michelin. The company has been showing new compounds in testing that are clearly a step in the right direction, but there is no ready answer to closing the gap to the French tyres over their first flying lap without compromising overall race pace. As long as this remains the case, the thing Sauber hope for is wet races to bring tyre superiority, and offer the only realistic chances they'll have to score more points.