BBC: Arrows admit to Frentzen chase.

[LucaBadoer]

The Arrows team have admitted that they want Heinz-Harald Frentzen rather than Jos Verstappen in their driver line-up this season.

Verstappen is under contract but Arrows said on Friday that they are in talks with Frentzen to partner Brazilian Enrique Bernoldi, who has been confirmed as one of the team's drivers.

Arrows boss Tom Walkinshaw announced in the course of last season that he had taken up their option on Verstappen - but the Dutchman will be dropped if they secure Frentzen.

An Arrows spokeswoman said: "Jos was confirmed a long time ago but there is no secret to the fact that Tom has been talking to Heinz-Harald.

"Everyone's going to have to wait and see what happens with that."
According to some reports, Frentzen has already signed an Arrows contract, but the team denies this.

It is possible that Arrows are waiting for Frentzen to resolve his contractual dispute with rival team owner Eddie Jordan so they can be sure the German will be free to concentrate on the season ahead.

Frentzen has taken Jordan to court for damages after being sacked after the British Grand Prix in July last year.

That would put the pressure on Frentzen to resolve his dispute quickly - the season starts on 3 March in Australia.

Arrows announced in a statement on Friday that Bernoldi would stay on in 2002 - but the release made no mention of Verstappen or Frentzen.

Walkinshaw said he had retained the Brazilian because of the pace he had shown in his debut season in 2001.

However, Bernoldi's close relationship with major Arrows sponsor Red Bull, the energy drink brand, is also crucial to the decision.

Walkinshaw said: "Enrique has proven himself to be very quick from the outset, particularly in qualifying where he has been our lead driver on 10 occasions.

"What has impressed us most recently is his growing confidence in setting up the car and his race performances.

"I feel the investment in taking a rookie last season will be well rewarded when we give him a competitive package in 2002."

Arrows have high hopes of progressing this season after securing a deal to run the same Cosworth engines as used by the Jaguar team.

[badoer fan]

Now, I hate to say I told ya so, but...

[steve nielsen]

Arrows would be pretty foolish to admit that they want HHF instead of Jos, it would only streghten Heinz's position so TW would have to pay more.

[Mr V]

the thing is steve, tom's gotta let hhf know he wants him, and if you were the owner of arrows who would you rather have?? a 3 times winner or someone who can be quick when he's not throwing it off the circuit!!

[NiceGuyEddie]

and it would be pretty foolish not to prefer Heinz over Jos.

Probably Arrows feels confident enough about retaining Heinz's services that they are not gonna lie about it.

[Mr V]

i HOPE i'm not gonna start any arguements here........but if i was HHF i think i would rather go to arrows than minardi or prost.

[LucaBadoer]

Well I'm glad they kept Enrique

[steve nielsen]

First TW tried to get more money from Red Bull by delaying Enriques confirmation, now he's trying the same with Trust ,Lost Boys and TCC.

That's the only reason I can think of.

[badoer fan]

Or the fact he DOES want Heinz

Don't worry, I'm only joking, to be honst I agree with you. I think Tom is doing what all the lower down team managers do. He just wants more money.

And I agree with LB. Go Enrique!

[Mr V]

TW proberbly wants the best of both worlds..best possible driver he can get and as much money as possible! and whats wrong with that, even the top teams do that.

[Nicholas]

Well! I'd never have guessed it!

[NiceGuyEddie]

First TW tried to get more money from Red Bull by delaying Enriques confirmation, now he's trying the same with Trust ,Lost Boys and TCC.

How can he delay confirmation on a contract that has been signed in june 2001?!?!?!?!?

Plus, how do you know that TW wanted more money from RedBull and that this is the reason he only just now confirmed Bernoldi? In fact, when you look at it, for Arrows' standards, Bernoldi is confirmed early.

He is putting Verstappens contract on the line in order to get Frentzen. It is quite simple you know.

[steve nielsen]

he can delay confirming it to the FIA(Jos's contract has already been aproved by the FIA though)

[NiceGuyEddie]

Confirming it to the FIA has no formal consequence whatsoever.

Arrows is doing nothing to pressure the sponsors, thats youre speculation. If you would open your eyes to some free information, you would have to come to the conclusion that Arrows will only lineup Verstappen when they can't have Frentzen.

Arrows wants Frentzen
Frentzen wants Arrows

The only formality is to get the financial thing straight (with the Jordan lawsuit and all) and Tom probably wants to arrange something with Jos' contract before he announces anything.

[EERO]

...and TWR were pretty pleased with themselves to have locked up Verstappen mid-season last year. There is more to resolve here contractually than HHF's tiff with Jordan.

I still thank that HHF and Jos were the way to go. Bernoldi just isn't as good.

[steve nielsen]

Originally posted by NiceGuyEddie
Confirming it to the FIA has no formal consequence whatsoever.

Arrows is doing nothing to pressure the sponsors, thats youre speculation. If you would open your eyes to some free information, you would have to come to the conclusion that Arrows will only lineup Verstappen when they can't have Frentzen.

Arrows wants Frentzen
Frentzen wants Arrows

The only formality is to get the financial thing straight (with the Jordan lawsuit and all) and Tom probably wants to arrange something with Jos' contract before he announces anything.

Frentzen wants Prost, he said it several times already, Bernoldi has only been contracted recently because Frentzen is'nt available anymore(because Prost is saved)

[SILVERS95]

What the point of signing contracts when Arrws are trying to get other drivers to come in at the last minute....it makes the contract mean nothing !

[steve nielsen]

well, when they really are still after HHF, who 's gonna take them serious in the future??

[SILVERS95]

The whole thing is turning into a bit of a joke......Theyve signed 2 drivers...but havent officially confirmed either in the race seat..

[steve nielsen]

Originally posted by SILVERS95
The whole thing is turning into a bit of a joke......Theyve signed 2 drivers...but havent officially confirmed either in the race seat..

That's what I said, they have to be very carefull not to go to far.

Sponsors and drivers won't take the team serious anymore if they decide to fire Jos.(everybody will think the team can't be trusted, even if you have a contract)

[Takuma]

The Arrows management obviously and rightly want to have the best possible drivers avalable to them this season.

Frentzen has achieved more in his career and with his experience of a top team is more likely to assist Arrows from the bottom of the grid. Also, as I have stated previously, some of the coments by Verstappen concerning his team mate during the last season, would be more than ample justification for the Arrows management to terminate his contract.

Almost every every employment contract contaians clauses concerning "negative" statements about the team and/or its personal. Verstappen's comments about Bernoldi quite obviously would be in breach of such a clause.

[SILVERS95]

Originally posted by steve nielsen


That's what I said, they have to be very carefull not to go to far.

Sponsors and drivers won't take the team serious anymore if they decide to fire Jos.(everybody will think the team can't be trusted, even if you have a contract)

well i think theyve already gone to far......it seems really stupid,

[Mr V]

Originally posted by SILVERS95


well i think theyve already gone to far......it seems really stupid,

don't think it will put the new drivers coming into f1 (wilson, webber etc) off somehow