Rubens Barrichello’s return to formula one could even happen this season.
It emerged late last week that the Brazilian veteran, who lost his Williams seat at the end of 2011, could be a shock contender to race alongside the highly inexperienced Sergey Sirotkin at Sauber next year.
But the highly respected Brazilian correspondent Livio Oricchio claims 41-year-old Barrichello - the most experienced driver in F1 history - could even race the Sauber at his home race at Interlagos for November’s 2013 finale.
Oricchio said Barrichello is currently not answering his phone.
"He just sent a message saying ’who knows’," he wrote in O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper.
And Oricchio said F1 chief executive Ecclestone answered "good" when told of the prospect of Barrichello’s return.