F1 Silly Season - Update (1 July).

Speculation surrounding team line-ups for next season continues with drivers rumoured to swapping seats, and previous unknowns being scouted for F1 debuts.


Among those not expected to move, however, are Benetton twins Giancarlo Fisichella and Alex Wurz. Team boss Rocco Benetton announced recently that he intends to take up his option on both drivers, ensuring at least one unchanged team in 2000. The decision also reduces Fisichella's chances of moving to Ferrari alongside Michael Schumacher should Eddie Irvine leave the team.


F3000 championship leader - and McLaren protege - Nick Heidfeld has been mentioned in connection with a seat at Sauber for next season. With McLaren unlikely to employ a raw newcomer in place of either Mika Hakkinen or David Coulthard next year, the German - who has stated his intention to secure an F1 seat in 2000 - will have to look elsewhere on the grid. The Sauber seat could be at the expense of either contracted driver, with both Jean Alesi and Pedro Diniz angling for a Ferrari seat alongside Schumacher. Sauber will be keen to hang on to the Brazilian, however, because of his financial backing.


Luca Badoer is rumoured to be leaving Minardi, but he denies that there will be a split either now or at the end of the season. The Italian team is always on the look-out for well-funded pilots, and Badoer is understood to have a rare chance to drive on ability alone.


British American Racing star Ricardo Zonta is being connected with both the second McLaren seat alongside Hakkinen, or the vacant slot at Jordan for 2000. While the McLaren berth is viewed only as a slight possibility, Jordan is thought to be seriously considering the Brazilian - if it can prise him out of an existing two-year deal with BAR.