DECEMBER 18, 2002
Stoddart confirms Albers contract
Minardi boss Paul Stoddart as confirmed that Dutchman Christjian Albers has a contract with the team but that the deal is dependent on finance - as we reported exclusively 10 days ago. Albers is now in competition for the second Minardi seat with his fellow countryman Jos Verstappen.
"We've signed a conditional contract with Christijan and its subject only to commercial finalisation," Stoddart said. "If that happens then Albers will be our second driver but we are still talking to Jos. I wish we had three seats because I'd like to take both off them. Everyone is saying that Eddie Irvine has gone to Jordan. I don't know whether he has or not but if that is true then clearly we have the last seat in Formula 1, in which case I could think of 20 guys that are going to want it."