| Team |
Driver 1 |
Driver 2 |
Test Driver |
Engine |
Tires |
Sponsors |
Launch Date |
| BAR |
Takuma Sato
Jacques Villeneuve |
Jenson Button |
Anthony Davidson
Bjorn Wirdheim
Townsend Bell |
Honda |
Michelin
Bridgestone |
Lucky Strike |
February 2
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|---|
 |
February 17: Wirdheim has signed to Jaguar as test driver there. |
| December 17: Bjorn Wirdheim could be in line for the job of second test driver, performing test duties back in Europe while the three other drivers are at international races. |
| November 27: BAR has confirmed it is switching from Bridgestone tires to Michelin. |
| October 16: Anthony Davidson has been confirmed as test driver for the team and will get to drive in Friday's free practice sessions during the season. |
| October 9: A disappointed Villeneuve went one better and asked to be excused from his contract one race early. Sato will now compete in his home race in 2003. |
| October 7: As expected, Takuma Sato has been confirmed to drive for BAR in 2004 at a press conference in Tokyo ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix. |
| October 4: Craig Pollock, Jacques Villeneuve's agent, has revealed that the team will not renew JV's contract for 2004. Takuma Sato is expected to be announced as replacement this Tuesday. |
| September 15: The buzz around Monza this week continued to be that Villeneuve will be replaced by Takuma Sato next year, as Honda desires a Japanese driver. Jacques has conceded a return to Champ Cars is a possibility. |
| August 15: The team has said it will test Arden F3000 drivers Wirdheim and Bell during September as part of a plan to test several young drivers over the next few months. Wirdheim has already secured the F3000 championship and will also test with Jordan. |
| August 6: David Richards is evaluating several drivers as replacement for Villeneuve, including McLaren test driver Alexander Wurz, who recently turned down an offer from Jaguar. |
| June 30: Jenson Button has a contract through 2006, but Jacques' expires at the end of 2003. There is lots of speculation about where he will end up, but there's a good chance he will sign up for another year with BAR (at a much lower salary). Takuma is signed through 2005 and either he or Anthony could take Jacques place if he leaves. |
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|---|
| Ferrari |
Michael Schumacher |
Rubens Barrichello
Felipe Massa |
Luca Badoer
Felipe Massa
Giancarlo Fisichella
Luciano Burti
Nick Heidfeld
Allan McNish |
Ferrari |
Bridgestone |
Marlboro
Vodafone
Shell
AMD |
January 26
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|---|
|
February 4: Luciano Burti has re-signed as part-time test driver for Ferrari. |
| January 9: Giancarlo Fisichella will be a part-time tester for Ferrari, alongside his full-time duties with Sauber. |
| November 6: Autosport reports Felipe Massa will continue as a test driver for Ferrari, in addition to driving in races for Sauber. Luca Badoer has also been confirmed as test driver for the team, ending any hopes for drivers such as Allan McNish. |
| September 12: With Massa likely to drive for Sauber, Autosport expects Burti to return as test driver. |
| July 29: Here's a crazy one! A suggestion in the Toronto Star that Barrichello will be swapped to Sauber, allowing Massa to take the Ferrari seat as grooming for the future! |
| June 30: Michael's contract has been extended through 2006 and Rubens' is in place for 2004. |
|
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|---|
| Jaguar |
Mark Webber |
Christian Klien
Alexander Wurz
Jos Verstappen
Justin Wilson
Antonio Pizzonia |
Bjorn Wirdheim
Townsend Bell
Alan van der Merwe
Justin Wilson
Antonio Pizzonia |
Cosworth |
Michelin |
HSBC
Du Pont
Pioneer |
January 18
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|---|
|
February 17: Wirdheim has been confirmed as Jaguar test driver. |
| January 28: Bjorn Wirdheim will test for the team in Valencia today. He now joins Townsend Bell as a candidate to drive the third car in Friday test sessions. |
| December 17: Autosport reports that American driver Townsend Bell is favorite for the Jaguar test driver role, allowing him to practice in a third car on Fridays. However, he still needs to come up with funding to secure the deal. |
| December 3: The team has signed Christian Klein, carrying Red Bull sponsorship, to partner Mark Webber. |
| November 14: Christian Klien and Townsend Bell will test for the team in Spain at the end of the month. |
| November 12: Red Bull is still insisting that Christian Klein be give a race drive before it will sponsor the team. Both may end up at Jordan or Minardi... |
| November 12: According to Autosport, the team seems intent on finding a driver who will pay for the second seat. A spokeswoman for Villeneuve says he has no interest in buying a ride at Jaguar. |
| November 5: Jaguar have given Justin Wilson a short-term extension to his contract to allow him to test for the team. This could be his last chance to impress while the team decides on its second driver for 2004. |
| November 1: Autosport reports that Christian Klien from Austria could be the key to Jaguar landing Red Bull sponsorship. If the team takes on the young Red Bull Formula 3 star as test driver, that could leave the way open for Alexander Wurz to land the second race seat. |
| October 29: September has come and gone, but no news yet. Autosport reports rumors of Jos Verstappen being linked with the drive. |
| October 16: Wurz might have turned down picking up Pizzonia's drive, but Autosport reports he is still high in the running for the seat for 2004. |
| August 27: The team says it will decide who will be Webber's teammate by the end of September. |
| August 8: Alexander Wurz is said to have turned down the job of replacing Pizzonia. |
| July 31: Pizzonia turned down the testing role, so that's the last we will see of him at Jaguar. |
| July 21: Jaguar announced today that they will be replacing Pizzonia with Justin Wilson, with immediate effect. Pizzonia has been offered a testing role. |
| June 30: Mark has been pulling his weight, but Antonio's position with the team is uncertain. Both drivers perform testing duties. |
|
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|
|---|
| Jordan |
Nick Heidfeld
Jos Verstappen
Heinz Harald-Frentzen
Jacques Villeneuve |
Giorgio Pantano
Ralph Firman
Allan McNish
Zsolt Baumgartner |
Timo Glock
Jarsolav Janis
Bas Leinders
Vitaly Petrov
Richard Lyons
Satoshi Motoyama
Bjorn Wirdheim
Ralph Firman |
Cosworth
Mercedes |
Bridgestone |
Benson & Hedges |
February 3
|
|---|
|
February 19: Jordan has confirmed Timo Glock as test driver. |
| February 14: Ralph Firman says he is now looking at Champ Car and IndyCar for somewhere to race in 2004. |
| February 13: Jordan has confirmed Giorgio Pantano as its second driver. |
| February 10: Pantano is testing with the team at Jerez this week, fueling rumors that he is about to be confirmed as driver of the second car. Adding credence to this is that Allan McNish has signed to drive for Audi UK in the Le Mans 24 Hours and Le Mans Endurance Series. |
| February 4: Autosport adds Pantano to the list of hopefuls for the second seat. |
| January 30: Nick Heidfeld has finally been signed to drive for the team. Autosport believes Ralph Firman and Allan McNish are still jockeying for the second seat. |
| January 27: After Verstappen's management set an ultimatum on Friday that was unmet, the Dutch driver has abandoned negotiations with the team. He says they were not able to agree on a contract. |
| January 21: Glock had a big crash during his test yesterday, but the team is still considering him for Friday test sessions. With Verstappen closing in on the first seat, Autosport tips Heidfeld, Firman and McNish for the second. |
| January 19: Autosport reports young German F3 driver Timo Glock will test for Jordan in Barcelona on January 20, the day before Bas Leinders. |
| January 15: Autosport quotes Verstappen's manager as saying a contract has not been signed yet. It appears that paying drivers, such as Verstappen and Heidfeld, are competing for one seat, while a British driver, such as Firman or McNish, will take the other, to keep British sponsor Benson & Hedges happy. Meanwhile the team has announced veteran Belgian driver Bas Leinders will test for the team on January 21. |
| January 8: Dutch media reports say Verstappen has signed with Jordan. But where does that leave Heidfeld, who we expect to take one seat and Firman who had a two-year contract? |
| December 17: Frentzen has announced he will compete in the German Touring Car series in 2004. |
| December 17: The team will continue to use Ford Cosworth engines in 2004. Moreover, these will be the same specification as used by Jaguar. |
| November 6: Autosport says Nick Heidfeld has opened talks with Eddie Jordan, who has made no secret of his interest in signing the former Sauber driver. |
| October 7: Japanese driver Satoshi Motoyama, current leader of the Formula Nippon championship, gets to drive the Jordan this Friday during the private test session at the Japanese Grand Prix. |
| September 2: Baumgartner will replace Ralph Firman for Jordan in this week's test at Monza. Wirdheim will get to test on the Friday of the US Grand Prix (in addition to his upcoming BAR test at Jerez). |
| August 27: Autosport reports that terms for a 2004 deal with Ford were not agreed by the end of July, allowing a way for Jordan to get out of the contract. Jordan wants to switch to Mercedes customer engines, partly in the belief that they will be cheaper - but both manufacturers appear to be asking about $20 million. Mercedes would favor Heidfeld, who has a long history with them, joining the team. |
| August 24: With Firman injured during practice for the Grand Prix of Hungary, Baumgartner got to take his place in the race. |
| August 4: Zsolt Baumgartner tested for Jordan on the Friday of the German Grand Prix and will get to run again at his home Grand Prix of Hungary. Newly-crowned Formula 3000 champion Bjorn Wirdheim will also get to test the Jordan on Friday at the Italian Grand Prix. |
| July 31: While the team has been linked with an engine supply deal with Mercedes, they already have two years left on their contract with Ford. Mercedes are unlikely to get into messy contract negotiations. |
| July 20: Zsolt Baumgartner, who drives for the Coloni F3000 team will test a Jordan on the Friday of the German Grand Prix. |
| June 30: Ralph has a contract through 2005 but, based on his current performance, he may not be back in 2004. Fisi's contract expires at the end of 2004, but he has been pretty vocal about wanting to leave. |
|
|
|
|---|
| McLaren |
David Coulthard |
Kimi Räikkönen |
Pedro de la Rosa
Alexander Wurz
Darren Turner
Jacques Villeneuve |
Mercedes |
Michelin |
West
Mobil
Siemens |
November 25
|
|---|
|
December 3: Having failed to secure a race drive with Jaguar, Wurz has re-signed as a McLaren test driver. |
| November 18: McLaren has announced that Juan Pablo Montoya has signed to drive for the team... starting in 2005! |
| November 5: If Alexander Wurz moves to Jaguar, Jacques Villeneuve could become test driver at McLaren. Musical chairs, anyone? |
| August 23: McLaren has confirmed that Coulthard will drive for the team in 2004. |
| July 31: Rumors persist that Montoya will replace Coulthard, despite the fact that he is signed to Williams. The team will probably stick with Coulthard until top drivers like Montoya are really available in 2005. |
| June 30: Kimi's performance has been outstanding, so no doubt he will stay. Is it time for DC to step aside for some fresh blood? |
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|
|
|---|
| Minardi |
Gianmaria Bruni |
Zsolt Baumgartner
Nicolas Kiesa?
Ryan Briscoe?
Jos Verstappen
Christjian Albers
Justin Wilson
Rodolfo Lavín |
Norbert Siedler?
Narain Karthikeyan?
Sergey Zlobin?
Matteo Bobbi?
Fabrizio del Monte?
José Maria Lopez?
Heikki Kovalainen? |
Cosworth |
Bridgestone |
European Aviation
Trust |
March 3
|
|---|
|
February 11: Norbert Siedler has taken an F3000 seat at ADM Motorsports, for whom Gianmaria Bruni ran last year while also employed as test driver for Minardi. A good sign that Siedler may be Minardi's test driver this year? |
| January 28: Autosport reports Baumgartner has paid Minardi the first installment of his fee, buying himself time to find new sponsors to fund the whole season. |
| January 21: Speculation centers on Kiesa, Briscoe and Pantano as candidates for the second seat, if Baumgartner's manager fails to find alternate sponsorship, according to Autosport. |
| January 15: Autosport reveals that Baumgartner's seat may be in jeopardy. One of his sponsors claims their deal was conditional on him landing a seat at Jordan. |
| December 23: Minardi officially announced Zsolt Baumgartner as its second driver for 2004. |
| December 21: Grandprix.com reports that while Baumgartner is still most likely for the second seat, Minardi has also been negotiating with Dutch DTM ace Christjian Albers and Mexican Champ Car rookie Rodolfo Lavín (presumably with Corona sponsorship). |
| December 19: Verstappen's management have said he will definitely not be driving for Minardi in 2004. |
| December 17: Minardi has confirmed Gianmaria Bruni as a driver for next year. While there are plenty of contenders, Jos Verstappen is favorite to fill the second seat. |
| December 17: Now Autosport reports that the team is finalizing a contract to run Zsolt Baumgartner as its second driver. |
| December 11: Narain Karthikeyan and Norbert Siedler join the list of drivers testing for the team this week. |
| December 3: After failing to keep his race seat at Jaguar, Justin Wilson has a good chance of returning to Minardi. |
| November 28: The team has announced it will test José Maria Lopez, Heikki Kovalainen and Fabrizio Del Monte at Vallelunga in Italy over December 10-12. |
| October 29: Autosport reports that Minardi is close to signing 22-year-old Italian driver Gianmaria Bruni for 2004. |
| July 31: Cosworth engines for 2004 may be part of the pay-off for Justin Wilson. |
| July 21: Justin Wilson will move to Jaguar for the rest of the season. Assuming he does well there (or at least better than Pizzonia did) he will keep the seat next year. If not, maybe he will be back with Minardi? |
| July 18: Current test driver Sergey Zlobin will be a great fit if a Russian Grand Prix is added to the schedule in 2004. |
| July 16: Britain's Daily Telegraph quotes Minardi boss Paul Stoddart as saying of Justin Wilson: "I hold his contract and I will definitely have him next year if we have not moved him on to another team." |
| June 30: Basically, both seats at Minardi are up for the highest bidder! Can Justin Wilson find the cash to fund another season? Or will his 2003 performance attract a bigger team? |
|
|
|
|---|
| Renault |
Fernando Alonso |
Jarno Trulli
Jacques Villeneuve |
Franck Montagny
Raffaele Gianmaria?
Heikki Kovalainen?
Jose Maria Lopez?
Satoshi Motoyama?
Allan McNish |
Renault |
Michelin |
Mild Seven |
January 29
|
|---|
|
December 17: Satoshi Motoyama tested for the team last week. |
| November 18: Renault will test Dallara Nissan driver Heikki Kovalainen and 2003 Formula Renault V6 Eurocup champion Jose Maria Lopez in December. |
| September 23: Renault has announced Franck Montagny as official reserve and test driver for 2004. He has served as a test driver this season, but 2003 official reserve Allan McNish has been let go. |
| August 20: Renault has confirmed it will keep Alonso and Trulli as drivers for 2004. |
| July 28: Flavio Briatore tells Britain's Sunday Mirror he would not take Villeneuve, even if he were to drive for free. |
| June 30: Big progress has been made this year by Renault. They are certain to keep Alonso, who has another year remaining on his contract, but Trulli could be replaced unless he really stars in the remainder of the season. McNish must be hoping to fill the seat, but surely he's too old now? It's more likely to go to French driver Montagny, who has an enormous lead in the 2003 Superfund World Series by Nissan. |
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|---|
| Sauber |
Giancarlo Fisichella |
Felipe Massa
Nick Heidfeld
Heinz Harald-Frentzen |
Neel Jani
Luca Badoer?
Jos Verstappen |
Ferrari
Mercedes |
Bridgestone |
Credit Suisse
Red Bull
Petronas
Malaysia |
January 12
|
|---|
|
December 17: Neel Jani will be Sauber's test driver for the 2004 season, even though the team will not be afford to run a third car for him at every event. The team may run only two cars in Friday practice sessions, or allow paying drivers to fund the third car. |
| October 3: Peter Sauber has confirmed Felipe Massa to partner Fisichella, despite Frentzen and Heidfeld finishing third and fifth at Indianapolis. |
| August 23: Sauber has confirmed Giancarlo Fisichella as driver for the next two seasons. He is widely expected to be joined by Felipe Massa. |
| June 30: Both drivers' contracts are up at the end of the season and rumors abound that Nick is out. Felipe Massa must be crossing his fingers after his role as "reserve driver" this year. |
| January 28: Autosport reports that Ferrari test driver Luciano Burti could become Sauber's third driver on Fridays. The 2004 Sauber may be similar enough to last year's Ferrari (from which this year's has evolved) that additional tire testing data may be an advantage to both teams. |
|
|
|
|---|
| Toyota |
Olivier Panis
Scott Dixon |
Cristiano da Matta |
Ryan Briscoe
Ricardo Zonta
Nick Heidfeld |
Toyota |
Michelin |
Panasonic
Denso
Intel
Esso |
January 17
|
|---|
|
November 6: Australian driver Ryan Briscoe will also serve as a test driver for the team for the coming season. |
| October 24: Ricardo Zonta will remain as test driver for the team. He has decided against looking for a Champ Car drive. |
| August 5: Toyota has announced that it will retain Panis and da Matta for 2004 after their fifth and sixth place finishes in the German Grand Prix. |
| June 30: Both drivers have contracts through 2004, but Robin Miller suggests that Toyota may bring its IRL star, Scott Dixon, over to F1 before he forgets how to run on road courses. |
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|
|---|
| Williams |
Juan Pablo Montoya |
Ralf Schumacher |
Marc Gené
Antonio Pizzonia
Marko Asmer
Ricardo Sperafico
Nelson Angelo Piquet
Nico Rosberg
Bjorn Wirdheim |
BMW |
Michelin |
BMW
HP
FedEx |
January 5
|
|---|
|
February 18: Williams says it has no plans to use Nelson Piquet or Nico Roseberg as test drivers this season. If they fail to score enough points to put them in the top six teams at the first few races, which additional driver will get to run on Fridays? Gené and Pizzonia are both disqualified due to the number of grands prix they have competed in. |
| December 3: Pizzonia is confirmed as a test driver too. |
| October 31: Marc Gené has been confirmed as official test and reserve driver for 2004. Other drivers may assist in test duties before and during the season. |
| October 27: Chinese driver Ho-Pin Tung will test for the team as a reward for winning the Formula BMW Asia championship. While this is a nice publicity stunt for the 2004 Grand Prix of China, it is unlikely to lead to an official test role in the near future. |
| October 2: Nelson Angelo Piquet, son of the 1987 world champion, is expected to test for Williams at Jerez, Spain in mid-December. |
| September 4: Williams has signed Estonian driver Marko Asmer, currently in Formula Ford, as test driver for the remainder of the 2003 season, with an option for next year. |
| August 16: The German magazine Bild reports that Ralf has re-signed through 2006 for a reduced salary of $12 million, plus bonuses. |
| August 8: Williams has asked Pizzonia if he would be interested in returning to a test role. |
| July 16: Current F3000 championship leader Bjorn Wirdheim is expected to be offered a test run in the Williams, to occur sometime in September, according to Crash.net. This puts him in the frame for a test driver role in 2004. |
| July 16: Budweiser has signed on as a sponsor for at least the next two seasons, starting at this year's British Grand Prix. |
| June 30: Montoya has a contract through 2004. However, Ralf's expires at the end of this season. Based on his current performance, he should be back. |
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