Tokyo newspaper, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported yesterday that Honda was considering a return to Formula One in the year 2000.

A final decision on whether a return would occur is expected to be made early next year. Company officials were quoted as saying the company would prepare privately for 1 or 2 years before returning.

Honda withdrew from Formula One in 1992 due to poor financial earnings and conditions. In May of this year, Honda said that higher revenues, cost cutting and a weaker yen lifted consolidated pre-tax profit 239.4 percent from a year earlier to a record 390. 7 billion yen ($3.4 billion) in the year to March.

Fontana to race for Sauber again

Sauber-Petronas has confirmed that their test driver Norberto Fontana will drive their second car this weekend at the German Grand Prix.

Fontana was promoted from his test driver role after Gianni Morbedelli broke his arm in a testing accident in France last month.

Morbedelli is expected to return to full time driving in time for the Hungarian Grand Prix next month.