APRIL 17, 2002

The Minardi test driver

There has been a certain amount of mystery in recent weeks about the role of Minardi test driver.

THERE has been a certain amount of mystery in recent weeks about the role of Minardi test driver. The team is rather coy on the subject and says that there isn't really an official test driver but most of the French and Belgian press seem to be under the impression that the job has been given to David Saelens.

The team says that there is a loose arrangement for Saelens to do some of the testing later in the year but that he is not the official reserve driver.

Sources within the team say that if one of the current drivers was to have problems there is no question that the team would go first to Jos Verstappen rather than to Saelens.