Gianni Agnelli, the chairman of Fiat, said today that Michael Schumacher will be staying with Ferrari until at least the end of 1999.

Ferrari are obviously keen to retain the 2 times World Champion until he retires, but unless he can take another Drivers Championship with Ferrari any further contract extension looks unlikely

It has been rumoured in the British press that Johnny Herbert is likely to leave Sauber in 1999. The likely suspects are said to be Williams, Prost and Jordan although none have expressed an interest in the Monaco-based driver publicly.

With Heinz-Harald Frentzen looking to be high on Peter Sauber's shopping list for 1999 Johnny is sure to be looking for other options. In 1996 the two drivers were paired up and Herbert felt that the team put more effort behind the German driver and as such would not be keen to repeat the mauling he recieved.

Frentzen has also been linked with a drive in one of the Reynard-Ford-Firestone cars run by Team Rahal in Champ cars.