Arrows and Minardi are reportedly in a wrestling match to secure Prost driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen’s services for 2002 – irrespective, it seems, of whether the French team survives or not.
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Arrows and Minardi are apparently in a wrestling match to secure Prost driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen’s services for 2002 – irrespective, it seems, of whether the French team survives or not!
According to Autosport.com, Frentzen looks likely to switch to Arrows next season, despite saying he preferred to drive for Prost Grand Prix. The German, who raced for Prost this year after being sacked by Jordan, was encouraged by the progress the French team made in the second half of the season.
F1 insiders say the German jumped at the chance of setting up his car exactly the way he wanted at Prost, something he was not allowed to do when he was driving for Eddie Jordan. Earlier this week, Frentzen reiterated his desire to drive for Prost next season. The German said that he felt comfortable and established within the team and his boss, Alain Prost, said that he would make sure Frentzen remained the kingpin of the French concern.
But the news that Prost has been placed in receivership, effectively giving them a six months deadline to find the money they need to continue in Formula One, means that Arrows is fast becoming Frentzen’s best option – Autosport reported on Thursday.
Frentzen reportedly held talks with Arrows as recently as two weeks ago, but the negotiations may have stalled. If Frentzen does join the Leafield-based team, Holland’s Jos Verstappen is expected to make way, even though he is under contract for next year.
Frentzen would instead partner Brazil’s Enrique Bernoldi, who seems certain to keep his seat at Arrows due to his link with the team’s sponsor Red Bull. However, will Frentzen be prepared to pay a “buy out” fee on Verstappen’s contract, as it has been rumoured?
Frentzen’s other option would be Minardi, where team boss Paul Stoddart is understandably keen on employing a three-time Grand Prix winner. Stoddart is not impressed with Arrows’s attempts to snare Frentzen. The team boss believes Arrows are playing games with both Verstappen and Frentzen.
In fact, Stoddart has openly admitted that he would be more than glad to have either one driving for Minardi alongside Malaysian driver Alex Yoong in 2002.
“They are toying with Verstappen and Frentzen,” Stoddart was quoted as saying in the German media. “Both of whom I want.”
"If Prost continues it’s fair to say Frentzen will stay with them," Stoddart added. "If not, I suspect we’ll get him".