It's believed that some-time McLaren tester, and former McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner, Gary Paffett, could drive the third car for Sauber at the Hungaroring next month.

If true, it would be a first for both Paffett and Sauber.

Although the Swiss team has the right to run a third car on Fridays at Grand Prix meetings, it has chosen not to take advantage of the rule thus far this year, claiming that it doesn't have the budget.

Meanwhile, for the 23-year-old Hertfordshire driver, it would mark his first F1 drive other than at a test session.

The English youngster, who is currently making a big impression in DTM, has suddenly emerged as a possible contender for an F1 seat, with Sauber seemingly in pole position to sign him.

However, it's known that the Hinwil based outfit is keeping an eye on BAR tester Anthony Davidson, prompting talk of a 'shoot out'.

Team boss Peter Sauber has gained something of a reputation as a talent spotter over the years, in Sportscars he ran a certain German called Michael Schumacher. He also introduced both Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen to F1, in addition to Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who had previously partnered Schumacher in the Sportscar team.

"Gary has an impressive career behind him and he is doing a good job in the DTM," said Sauber, according to the Daily Telegraph. I think he is a fighter, and that is important.

"Normally this approach doesn't reflect my character," he added, "but an F1 team is not something static, it's moving, it's living, it's changing and there is a psychological aspect. For a team like us, it would be good to have a young, wild driver with the hope that he can be great, rather than a known driver where you know what you get but also know what you don't get."

"In the DTM this year I'm right up there," said Paffett, "and it has made a lot of people notice. Sauber would be a good opportunity."

It's rumoured that Paffett has held talks with two other F1 teams, and one has to surmise that McLaren could be one of them, since the English youngster is a works Mercedes driver in the DTM. Furthermore, having won the German F3 Championship, he is well known in Germany.

This of course adds more clout to the reports that Giancarlo Fisichella is on his way to Renault, while the Anthony Davidson factor could indicate that Felipe Massa's position is under threat, certainly the Brazilian hasn't really impressed this year.