F3000 sensation Vitantonio Liuzzi could be heading to Ferrari in 2005 as test driver.

The Italian, who at Hockenheim scored a record sixth win of the season, and now leads Enrico Toccacelo by ten points, is understood to have held initial talks with the Maranello outfit.

Liuzzi, who is managed by former Lotus, Williams and Benetton team manager, Peter Collins is widely regarded as the 'next big thing' in F1, and Collins believes, quite rightly, that a year with Ferrari as test driver would be a superb first step on the F1 ladder for the Italian.

Liuzzi, a former karting World Champion, tested for WilliamsF1 at Valencia in 2002, before joining Coloni Motorsport in F3000 in 2003, moving to reigning champions Team Arden this year.

It's understood that there is already an issue concerning the future of Luca Badoer at Ferrari, the Italian rumoured to be asking for a pay increase which is unacceptable to the team's management.

Liuzzi could drive the F2004 as early as September.