When will we find out about Arrows’ future?

Worrying times
By Huw Alban
August 6 2002

According to a number of F1 news sources, the Arrows F1 Team has now been sold - although the identity of the new owner is a closely guarded secret. We can expect to find out before the Hungarian Grand Prix, along with the identity of Enrique Bernoldi’s new team-mate.

Speculation first started at the German Grand Prix, where the team had a normal weekend, with no mention of the legal wranglings that had previously plagued Arrows. In addition, an anonymous source said to DailyF1News, “The feeling here is that the future of the team is now secure. The sale of the team is no secret.”

DailyF1News believes that ex-BAR boss Craig Pollock is heading the deal, backed by North American sponsorship money likely to heavily involve Red Bull’s Dieter Mateschitz. Previous speculation had indicated that if Red Bull were involved then the team would be renamed Red Bull Team USA.

Other sources also believe that Pollock will replace Tom Walkinshaw as team boss, and that ex-IndyCar ace Danny Sullivan will most likely also have a heavy involvement in the new team.

The only ‘fly in the ointment’ in this story is the recent departure of Heinz-Harald Frentzen from the team. This was announced with the explanation that Frentzen was not happy with the uncertainty surrounding the team’s future. Well, if the team has been sold and DailyF1News’ contact is sound, then what is Frentzen so concerned about? Answers on the message board please.

In addition, on the subject of an announcement about the team’s future, a prize to tour the Arrows factory at Leafield, arranged by Planet-F1.com, has been cancelled today and is not likely to take place until early September. This suggests that a deal will be in place by then, with the team firmly under new ownership. The Belgian Grand Prix is the first race in September, following on from the Hungarian race, so this points quite firmly to an announcement in Hungary.

More when we get it!