Team US F1 is unlikely to run an all-American driver line-up when it comes into Formula 1 next year, and could end up not running one in either seat.

Team principal Peter Windsor told AUTOSPORT that because of the delays caused by the late signing of the Concorde Agreement at the end of July and the lack of suitable American candidates, it is likely to employ at least one overseas driver.

"Because of all the time we've lost, our ambition to run two young Americans is looking more difficult," Windsor told AUTOSPORT.

"I'm still hoping we'll be able to run one American, but that's a tall order because there aren't many Americans out there with superlicences."

The plan to run an all-American driver line-up in the long term will remain, with US F1 hoping to fund several young drivers in junior categories next year to develop future grand prix prospects.

A1GP race-winner Jonathan Summerton, who heads into this weekend's Formula Atlantic finale at Laguna Seca with a shot at the title, has been linked to the team, which is also known to have been impressed with Indy Lights champion JR Hildebrand.

"If we can't fulfil that [the plan to run an American] in 2010, we will certainly put a programme together for young Americans," said Windsor.

"We're making sure we're disciplined to put some money aside to help them with what they are doing whether it's Formula BMW in Europe, Formula Ford 2000 in the States or even GP2.

"GP2 is expensive, but I'm hoping we can find enough money to do that if that's what needs to be done."

Windsor is keen for US F1 to run at least one driver with experience next year, with both Alex Wurz and Pedro de la Rosa linked with the team, and is confident that there are plenty of available options.

"There is a huge argument for running one experienced driver to give us that leg up into year one," said Windsor. "You could ask why that wasn't always the argument because it's a nice feeling for a new team to have two young drivers who grow at the same rate.

"But that required more downtime that we didn't have. It will be interesting when the music stops how many of the experienced guys are standing.

"It's a buyer's market. Let's hope that really talented drivers like Anthony Davidson, Jamie Green and Gary Paffett all get a chance in F1 because it's sad that so many talented drivers haven't had a chance."

Peter Windsor has hit back at and firmly denied reports that USF1 will not be ready for the 2010 season because it is not yet crash-testing parts for its car.

The reports also said Windsor, the new Charlotte-based team's sporting director as well as a Formula One journalist, has left the door open to the possibility of selling the official team entry to another outfit.

"The report seemed to come out of Switzerland/Germany, the land of BMW-Sauber," he told the online magazine GPWeek, referring to the fact that the Hinwil based team has not yet been granted a guaranteed berth on the 2010 grid.

Windsor said "several" components for the 2010 car have been "successfully" crash-tested, and that more tests will take place this and next month.

He denied he recently voted in favor of having the ability to sell USF1's entry, and also shed doubt on the context of quotes attributed to Ross Brawn, where the Brackley based team's boss seemed to question whether USF1 will be ready to debut next March.

"Back in the real world, we're re-furbishing some trucks we've just bought from Brawn," said Windsor.

"As for USF1 Team, I can only repeat what Ken (Anderson) and I have been saying ever since we signed the Concorde Agreement: our slot is not for sale under any circumstances and we will be racing, and giving it 100 percent, from Bahrain onwards."

Jacques Villeneuve could return to Formula 1 this year if the Stefan GP team gains an entry to compete in the championship, AUTOSPORT has learned.

The 1997 F1 world champion is understood to have agreed terms to join the Serbian squad, which is still hoping to race in Formula 1 this year despite not having an entry, and an announcement could come as early as next week.

Sources close to the team have told AUTOSPORT that the 38-year-old Canadian would likely be joined by Japanese driver Kazuki Nakajima with Indian Karun Chandhok serving as a reserve driver.

Chandhok wrote on his Twitter account, however, that nothing had been signed yet.

"To clarify, at the moment there is no agreement with Stefan GP," he wrote. "Trust me, if I have an F1 deal signed and confirmed, I would shout it out proudly from the roof tops."

Villeneuve has not raced in Formula 1 since competing for BMW in 2006, although the Canadian has admitted he was actively seeking an option to return to grand prix racing.

The former Williams, BAR and Renault is understood to be training in the Austrian Alps and has remained active since leaving grand prix racing - having participated in two Le Mans 24 Hours races for Peugeot and an aborted NASCAR campaign.

Stefan GP, who has bought the rights to use Toyota's design for this year, is scheduled to test at the Portimao circuit at the end of the month. The team has also sent equipment both to Bahrain and Malaysia in case it receives an entry to race.

Although the Serbian squad does not have an entry, doubts still surround the future of the US F1 and Campos Meta projects, both of which are listed in the 2010 line-up but are yet to launch their cars or finalise their driver line-up.

Race director and F1 technical department head Charlie Whiting is believed to be visiting the US F1 facility in Charlotte Wednesday morning, having traveled to the USA Tuesday.

Although FIA sources would not confirm his presence, and trips to F1 teams are part of his normal schedule, it’s assumed that Whiting is paying the visit in order to find out exactly what the state of play is at the beleaguered team.

USF1 boss Ken Anderson recently asked the FIA for dispensation for the team to appear at the fifth race of the season in Barcelona. The governing body has recently issued a clarification insisting that teams cannot miss any races, despite suggestions that the Concorde Agreement allows teams to skip three events.

Whiting will be able to determine whether the team has any chance of competing even by Spain, and will presumably submit a report to that effect back to FIA President Jean Todt.

In the past ACCUS boss Nick Craw – who has been keen to see the project take off – has visited the team on behalfof the FIA.