Verstappen most likely to replace Frentzen?

Most likely?
By Huw Alban
August 8 2002

This started as a rumour, but recently more of the bigger ‘official’ F1 news sources have reported that Jos Verstappen could make a return to the Arrows team to replace Heinz-Harald Frentzen for the remainder of 2002. Jos was ‘released’ from the team at the start of the season amid outcry from fans.

The Dutchman is currently locked in a court battle with the team over loss of earnings, because of his unprompted departure from Arrows in February of this year. Despite this legal wrangle, Jos’ manager, Huub Rothengatter, seems unusually confident that his charge will return to the team for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

“We heard about Frentzen. There are discussions,” Rothengatter was quoted as saying by ITV-F1. “The lawyers are looking into what possibilities there are.

“We still have legal proceedings against Arrows, but when things are sorted to our satisfaction then why not? Things can be repaired, perhaps.”

The Arrows team’s participation is still not certain at this time, as there has been no public statement about the future of the team and a proposed sale, which was blocked by principal shareholder Morgan Grenfell. A source close to the team has revealed to this site that an announcement on the future of Arrows is expected to be made tomorrow (Friday 9th August), although it is uncertain whether this will come from Arrows or the new owners.

“There is so much going on at Arrows behind the scenes, and there is a lot of trouble to be solved that is nothing to do with Jos,” Huub continued.

“All sorts of actions are going on to get the things organised. We have been having some discussions with the team since February, when we were surprised to find out Jos was not driving. The lawyers are still speaking to each other.”

If this is true then there is a double irony, as it is widely tipped that Heinz-Harald Frentzen will return to Jordan for 2003 – the team he was sacked from in 2001. Perhaps mid-season team-hopping will become the way driver markets go in the future within the sport?