Heidfeld, Liuzzi for Red Bull team?

Nick Heidfeld and new FIA F3000 champion Vitantonio Liuzzi are being tipped to for the first driver line-up for the new Red Bull-owned Formula One team, according to sources close to the operation.

Following on from the news that a deal had been done with the drinks company, which was broken exclusively on Crash.net last week, it is understood that the team will be known as Red Bull Racing Limited, and will continue to use Cosworth power next season, having signed a deal to extend the Jaguar team's engine supply. An announcement confirming Cosworth's new owners is expected in London today [Monday]. The team has is also expected to continue running Michelin tyres, although a deal for 2005 and beyond still needs to be finalised.

The biggest speculation, however, will undoubtedly surround the identity of its first two drivers. Although Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has hinted that current Jaguar driver Christian Klien could remain with the squad for a second season in order to build on all he learned in his debut campaign, it is possible that a more experienced driver could be brought in to lead the team. With F3000 king Liuzzi - who ran with Red Bull backing in 2004 - likely to occupy the second seat, winter testing will take on a heightened sense of anticipation, with both youngsters expected to get track time as soon as the testing ban ends next week.

Rumours suggest, however, that, with Mateschitz insisting that drivers can be picked purely on the basis of talent, Nick Heidfeld will eventually get the nod to partner Liuzzi, even though the German is to run with Williams-BMW next month, and is tipped to fill the team's testing berth should Antonio Pizzonia partner Mark Webber in 2005. Heidfeld enjoyed a relationship with Red Bull while a mainstay at the Sauber team, and is regarded as one of F1's 'best kept secrets' after pedalling the recalcitrant Jordan EJ14 to several points finishes in 2004.