Ferrari president, Luca di Montezemolo, has made a surprise denial announcement regarding alleged talks with Stewart driver, Rubens Barrichello. Di Montezemolo, speaking to the press at Silverstone today, said his team is in no negotiations with the talented Brazilian and that no decision was made yet who will driver alongside Michael Schumacher in 2000.

"Rubens is a very quick, intelligent driver and we admire him," said the Ferrari boss, "but we have not talked to or made offers to him. That is not true.

"Eddie is doing his job as the second driver very well. This is why I hired him four years ago and I am pleased with his work. As to next season, there is no final decision. I want to talk to him and to understand his motivation. After four years, his position could be different. His motivation could have changed. So far, he and Michael Schumacher have been very good together and they have been successful. It is too early now to make any final decisions."

Di Montezemolo's denial comes is a surprise, after Barrichello himself confirmed earlier this week that he indeed did receive an offer from Ferrari and was talking to the Italian team, as well as to his own team Stewart. "The truth is that I'm talking to them for sure, as well as I'm talking to Jackie," Barrichello said in a press conference held at Silverstone on Thursday, but added: "There's no decision yet, I haven't signed anything."