Rosberg poised for F1 deal?

UPDATE #3 It is 'unlikely' that Nico Rosberg would replace Antonio Pizzonia as Williams' race 'sub' in either Japan or China. That is the belief of the Grove team's technical director Sam Michael, who nonetheless has the 20-year-old GP2-driving German on the list for the full time 2006 seat.

''Whether he is in for the next two grands prix or not,'' the Australian said, ''is something that Frank Williams can decide. ''I would say it's unlikely.''

More promisingly for the son of 1982 world champion Keke Rosberg, though, is his future prospects. Sam Michael said Nico is 'definitely' on the '06 shortlist.

09/20/05 Nico Rosberg is more than likely to get the Williams seat alongside Mark Webber, as there will be a number of factors and the main one being no pressure. Everyone expects Williams to fail next year and putting a rookie behind the wheel of a quick out of the box but fading by mid-season Williams-Cosworth will be great for Nico (son of previous Williams World Champion Keke!). 09/15/05 The injured Nick Heidfeld's vacant Williams F1 seat appears to have boiled down to a race between regular sub Antonio Pizzonia and Nico Rosberg.

Speaking on a PR visit to Malta this week, Brazil's Pizzonia – who filled in at Monza and Belgium's Spa Francorchamps – expressed confidence that he'll get the nod. ''Racing at my home circuit will be something special for me,'' the 25-year-old told reporters.

The young pair are both testing at Silverstone this week. 20-year-old Rosberg, the son of Finland's 1982 world champion for Williams, is tipped in the Finnish and Italian press to have won the seat.

Further reports suggest that Nico, who was born in Germany, would be given a chance to shine in Japan and China (but not Brazil), should Heidfeld not be recovered from a fractured shoulder. ''I think it's premature to speculate on this,'' a spokesman at Oxfordshire said.

09/14/05 WilliamsF1 test driver Nico Rosberg could be on the verge of making his Formula 1 debut with the team according to speculation in the Finnish and Italian press. The GP2 race-winner, who is the son of 1982 Formula 1 world champion Keke, has been linked to the second Williams seat for the final two races of the season at Suzuka and Shanghai.

Nick Heidfeld missed the last two races at Monza and Spa after complaining of headaches following a testing crash.

Now the German has ruled himself out of the Brazilian Grand Prix after sustaining a shoulder injury in a cycling accident – and it remains unclear whether he will return to the seat this season.