Heinz-Harald Frentzen has signed a one-year contract to drive for Sauber next year. It will be something of a homecoming for Frentzen who started his Formula 1 career with a three-year stint at Sauber from 1994-1996.
Sauber will be Frentzen’s fourth team in three years as he was released mid-way through the 2001 season by Jordan only to get a drive with the Prost team that folded after the season ended. This year he was hired by Arrows but he left them a few weeks ago after their financial and legal problems made it impossible for them to field a team at several recent races.
Frentzen will partner current Sauber driver Nick Heidfeld which means that Brazilian rookie Felipe Massa will lose his seat. Massa has been offered the opportunity to stay on as a test driver but his agent is apparently trying to find him a better option for next year.