Brazil's Felipe Massa, who was ousted from his Sauber race seat at the end of last season, is to be its nominated reserve drive for 2003.

Massa, who was announced by Ferrari as its second test driver on Friday, will be on call in case either Heinz-Harald Frentzen or Nick Heidfeld cannot take part in a grand prix for any reason.

Team principal Peter Sauber said: "Mr Jean Todt [Ferrari's sporting director] has said Felipe will be able to test if time permits."

Sauber's technical director Willy Rampf told Autosport, however, that Massa is unlikely to test the C22 on anything approaching a regular basis, however, and that Frentzen and Heidfeld would be in sole charge of its development.

Massa attended Sauber's 'Car on Ice' extravaganza to showcase its C22 design in Zurich yesterday (Sunday). He was joined by fellow former Sauber stars Jean Alesi, Karl Wendlinger and Kimi Raikkonen.