DECEMBER 31, 2002

Decision time for Albers?

We hear that Christjian Albers's hopes of a Formula 1 drive will come to an end today if he is unable to meet the terms of a deal he signed with Minardi a month ago. Albers needs to pay the team a considerable amount of money but sources in Holland say that his backers have not come up with the money

We hear that Christjian Albers's hopes of a Formula 1 drive will come to an end today if he is unable to meet the terms of a deal he signed with Minardi a month ago. Albers needs to pay the team a considerable amount of money but sources in Holland say that his backers have not come up with the money and it is looking increasingly likely that Albers will end up back in the German Touring Car Championship again next year. If this happens the way would be open for Jos Verstappen to step in at Minardi although in recent days Dutch sources have indicated that there is talking going on between Verstappen and the Jordan team. This also involves sponsorship money and while Verstappen does have some backing from Lost Boys he does not have the kind of money which Jordan would like for the drive. Nor for that matter does Felipe Massa although the Brazilian is believed to have raised around $4m to get a drive. This could see him ending up at Minardi as a result.

Dutch internet sites are, however, reporting that a deal between Verstappen and Jordan in on the cards and that there has been a lot of activity in recent days.