Heinz-Harald Frentzen’s future in F1 remains in the balance due to the financial woes of Prost GP… Arrows has “finalised” its 2002 line-up, but why is the team still courting the Prost driver?
Heinz-Harald Frentzen’s future in F1 remains in the balance due to the financial woes of Prost F1… Arrows has “finalised” its 2002 line-up, but why is the team still courting the Prost driver?
Orange Arrows, headed by Tom Walkinshaw, recently released a statement confirming Enrique Bernoldi’s contract for the 2002 championship season. However, the team also stated that the full driver line-up “would be announced soon” – strengthening rumours that the Prost number one driver could replace current driver Verstappen.
In reaction, Verstappen’s manager, Huub Rottengather, said the Dutchman would definitely drive for Arrows this year.
“I believe that Arrows’s team is now complete,” he said. “Jos has his contract already (which was announced in June), and Enrique has also signed. Furthermore, Verstappen will be testing the A23 soon.
“Why have Arrows not confirmed Jos? They do not need to, they already gave him a contract in June. I have no doubts and am totally confident that Jos will drive for Arrows in 2002.”
However, a spokesman for Arrows on Tuesday confirmed that Walkinshaw was still in talks with Frentzen, and that they hoped to secure the German’s services.
An Arrows spokesman told the BBC: “Verstappen was confirmed a long time ago, but there is no secret to the fact that Walkinshaw has been talking to Frentzen. Everyone’s going to have to wait and see what happens with that.”
Will there be a rude shock for Verstappen (and his manager) when Arrows’s complete driver line-up is finally announced? The outcome of Frentzen’s negotiations with Arrows largely depends on the whether Prost’s rumoured financial rescue bid is successful.
Frentzen has vowed to stay with the struggling French team as long as it can provide him with a drive. However, it remains to be seen whether Alain Prost’s team will be able to take to grid at the first grand prix of the year in Melbourne on March 3.
