Sauber keeps Massa in reserve.

Sauber has agreed a deal with engine supplier Ferrari that will see former pilot Felipe Massa act as stand-in for either Nick Heidfeld or Heinz-Harald Frentzen should they fall ill during the 2003 Formula One season.

The Brazilian was confirmed as one of Ferrari's two test drivers ahead of its launch last Friday, having been dropped by Sauber in favour of the more experienced Frentzen this season. However, team boss Peter Sauber is known to have wanted to keep the 21-year old on as test driver in 2003, and has now agreed terms with Ferrari to use him as officially nominated reserve.

"Felipe has a contract with Ferrari to be one of their test drivers," Sauber spokeswoman Ilka Wendlandt confirmed to pitpass.com, "The agreement that we have with Ferrari is that he will be our test driver when he is free of Ferrari commitments, although there is no specified number of times when this will be the case, and will also act as out reserve driver."

Ferrari has yet to announce who its official reserve will be, although regular tester Luca Badoer will hope that his name is entered before the FIA. This has not always been the case in past seasons, however, with Mika Salo being called in to replace the incapacitated Michael Schumacher in 1999.