03/06/2004
NEWS STORY
Following a number of sensational performance in Friday practice this season, it's believed that Anthony Davidson has been summoned to the Grove HQ of WilliamsF1 for a special meeting with team boss Frank Williams next week.
The English youngster, who replaced Alex Yoong at Minardi in the 2002 Hungarian and Belgian Grands Prix, has spent the last couple of seasons testing for BAR, in addition to GT drives at Le Mans and Sebring and even a stint as reserve driver for Jaguar.
This season however, he has stepped up a notch, and it couldn't have been at a better time, with the assembled F1 team bosses watching his every move.
At the Nurburgring he was quickest in the opening practice session - out-pacing Michael Schumacher, while a week earlier he was proclaimed star of the day, having posted second best time of the day - despite never having driven the course before.
Patrick Head has already expressed an interest in Davidson, and now it appears that team boss Williams has recognised the youngster's obvious talent.
With Juan Pablo Montoya heading to McLaren, and Ralf Schumacher almost certain to move on - but where? - there are likely to be two vacancies at Grove.
Despite Mark Webber's claims that he wishes to complete the job with Jaguar, the signs are that the deal has already been done.
Although Williams has said that he wants proven winners in his cars - which certainly limits his options - the Englishman also loves true racers, and both Webber and Davidson fit that particular criteria.
"I have learnt that perception is everything in Formula One, Davidson told Motorsport News. "For a long time, I was seen as a test driver and as being quite inexperienced, but this year I feel the most ready I have ever been to go racing. I would slot into it without any panic."