JULY 4, 2006

BMW to test Vettel

Germany's Sebastian Vettel is to have a second test in F1 in Jerez. The BMW protege had a run last year with Williams and will now be seen at the wheel of a BMW Sauber. Vettel is a Red Bull contracted driver but we understand that BMW has the first option on his services in the future and it may be that the team is looking to see if he is a possible candidate for the third drive next season if the team decides to promote Robert Kubica to a race drive alongside Nick Heidfeld. This would mean that Vettel would be in the right place to come in for Heidfeld at the end of his contract if Nick has not done enough to keep BMW happy. Heidfeld's contract is believed to run until the end of 2008.

Vettel is currently racing in the Formula 3 Euroseries and is lying third in the standings behind Paul di Resta and Esteban Guerrieri having won one race so far this year.