Rumored driver moves
However, with only two A23/SA05 cars up and running, he will not take to the cockpit at Albert Park unless race drivers Takuma Sato or Yuji Ide are ill or injured.
And, after Giorgio Mondini did the driving duties at Sepang, Germany's Markus Winkelhock is to resume the 'Friday' wheel in Australia for the Midland-owned MF1 outfit.
Meanwhile, in the German 'Motorsport Aktuell' publication, it is suggested that McLaren's Ron Dennis has made an initial approach to F1 youngster Nico Rosberg, following the German's impressive Williams debut.
Both current silver clad pilots, Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya, are out of contract at the end of the year and connected with rival teams. If they should both depart, a 2007 ride would be vacant alongside Fernando Alonso.
For the record, the rumor goes on that any buyout of Rosberg's solid Williams contract could involve the transfer of McLaren property Lewis Hamilton to Frank Williams' team.
''I have a lot of respect for Frank,'' Dennis said, ''but we would both do anything to win.''