Frentzen

Heinz-Harald Frentzen will rejoin Formula One team Sauber next season on a one-year deal, the Swiss-based confirmed in a statement.

The 35-year-old German, who left the financially-troubled Arrows team earlier this month, will replace Brazilian driver Felipe Massa, who has been offered the role of test and reserve driver for 2003.

"In the end it was Heinz-Harald's performance this year that impressed us deeply and that was the decisive factor," said team principal Peter Sauber in a statement.

"He is not only one of the fastest drivers in Formula One but he also knows how to move a team forward and has proven he is still very highly motivated.

"The decision to replace Felipe Massa was not easy for me," said Sauber. "I hope he will accept our offer as test driver. We continue to be very interested in his development."

Frentzen will sit out the remaining four races of the Formula One season before returning to partner 25-year-old compatriot Nick Heidfeld next year.

"When I left Team Sauber in 1996, I always clearly said that at some time or other I would like to come back to this team," said Frentzen.

"The performance of Sauber Petronas in the last years has really impressed me and I am convinced that together we can be successful.

"The renewed cooperation with a lot of old friends will be an additional motivation for me," he added.

Sauber gave Frentzen his Formula One debut in 1994. He moved to Williams in 1997, where he won one Grand Prix, before joining Jordan in 1999 and claiming another two victories.

"My relationship with Peter Sauber has always been something special. He gave me the chance in Formula One and, with that, the basis for my career," Frentzen said.

The announcement ends speculation that he would return to Silverstone-based Jordan, who sacked him last year. Frentzen then moved to Prost and joined Arrows when the French team collapsed.

In an interview with Bild am Sonntag newspaper, Frentzen said he had picked Sauber, instead of Toyota with whom he admitted having talks as well, because they were able to offer the best technical package of all the Formula Teams that were in consideration."

Frentzen said he was also looking forward to driving with Heidfeld, who comes from the same western German town of Moenchengladbach.

"I've known Nick for a long time," said Frentzen. "He's super fast and is among the top drivers in Formula One. I never would have thought we'd be driving for the same team. It will be exciting and the team can only profit from that if we both push each other faster."

Frentzen was released from Arrows after expressing concerns about the financial uncertainty of the team.

Arrows are fighting an injunction from shareholders Morgan Grenfell against the introduction of new investors. The team, who pulled out of last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, are in negotiations over a potential buyout.