23 replies to this topic

[flyer72]

From formula1.com interview with Paul Stoddart.

formula1.com: What were your reasons for replacing Tarso Marques with Alex Yoong?
PS: Tarso did not actually bring any budget to the team. We get on fantastically with Tarso, he is a friend as well as a damn good driver, and he did the job that I asked him to do. Many times when we had problems in those early days, Tarso's car was the one that had the problems because the best equipment was always on Fernando's car. As a result throughout the year I said to Tarso many times that if the right driver came along with a good budget then I would change him, and he knew that from day one. Initially we just said we would do three races, and it shows how well we got along that he did fourteen! There were no hard feelings, I was driving with Tarso only last week and he is still very much involved in the Minardi team. So there were no problems at all.

formula1.com: What about next year, do you see him taking a role in the team still?
PS: He could be. I spoke to him, as I said very recently, I drove with him last week at the Minardi day down in Misano and we had a good discussion. Certainly, I will be doing all I can to help Tarso get a drive with another team or indeed a testing role or to help and support him. If he does end up with nothing then you will see him with a role within Minardi next year.

At least poor Tarso has ONE major supporter!

[Zawed]

Well he admits Alonso got the best equipment at least. I think Marques is better than he showed with Minardi.

[Peter Perfect]

Originally posted by Zawed
Well he admits Alonso got the best equipment at least. I think Marques is better than he showed with Minardi.

I agree completely. I hope Marques gets the other Minardi seat next year and we see what he's really capable of on a level playing field.

[flyer72]

I think Tarso is very underrated. If someone decided to sponsor him he would probably be much more attractive. I just hope that Paul Stoddart decides on PAYING his driver. The other hopefulls are not as seasoned as Tarso..... The indian dude lacks F1 experience!

I hope it is going to be Tarso. Otherwise MINARDI will totally lack any drivers with experience. If there is a chance for a point, that could be ruined by bad drivers.

I don't give too much hope for the asiatech engine even if it is a step up from 3 yearold Fords, but until Minardi gets a decent engine - the team will struggle.....

I personally just wish Minardi all the best for next season but if Stoddart choses another paydrive my respect will go down....

[Zawed]

Originally posted by flyer72

I personally just wish Minardi all the best for next season but if Stoddart choses another paydrive my respect will go down....

Well he already has Yoong there as a pay driver, so hopefully he'll pick someone based on talent rather than the size of his wallet. It might be Marques, though to be honest I actually doubt this will happen, more likely it will a bright young blood ala Alonso or Kimi. For Stoddart I think this is the way he will attract the most positive attention to his team...since Yoong will bring the wrong kind of attention I think. I hear he only has a couple of laps to go at Suzuka till he crosses the finish line...

[Senninha2000]

I would love to see Tarso there driving again in the races next year

I also think that actions like this (doing all he can to promote and help Tarso in his career) shows the Stoddard has real class.... I can't think of many other team bosses who would do their upmost to help a driver with his career when he's not driving for them, under option by them or in an informal agreement with them

[Breadmaster]

Tarso Marques pre-F1 record is actually quite impressive....A good place to check it out is the F1 Rejects site ( )
No really it is quite good.

Anyone who drives for tailenders gets tarred with the same brush though eh? Alonso I think is the first driver not to be and that makes Marques look even worse yesno?

[Senninha2000]

Don't forget that Fisichella and Trulli (amongst others) both drove for Minardi as well

[coyoteBR]

Honestly, I wished to see him in a slightly better car, but, hey, it's F-1 nevertheless.
Go, Tarso!

[Zawed]

Originally posted by Senninha2000
Don't forget that Fisichella and Trulli (amongst others) both drove for Minardi as well

and Lavaggi...;)

[Force Ten]

Originally posted by flyer72
I just hope that Paul Stoddart decides on PAYING his driver.

Do you hope that Paul PAYS for his driver more or do you hope that there is an existing Minardi team - which do you hope more?

[MinardiRules]

Normally Minardi has one driver who pays and one driver who gets paid - or at least doesn't pay.

Yoong being the paying one, there might be a good chance of Marques returning. And at least Stoddard admits that one of his drivers got the better car!

[Jackdaw]

Originally posted by flyer72
From formula1.com interview with Paul Stoddart.

Certainly, I will be doing all I can to help Tarso get a drive with another team or indeed a testing role or to help and support him. If he does end up with nothing then you will see him with a role within Minardi next year.

Well, this line makes me think the chances of Tarso returning as the other Minardi driver are not likely, particularly the italicized part....if he is the guy you want why would you be trying to get him a ride somewhere else?

Incidentally, in a different part of the article Stoddart says neither Webber nor Karthikeyan is at the top of his list either. Who will the mystery driver be!?

[molive]

Everybody that bashed Tarso this year should apologize to his fans.

People criticized the guy every weekend, specialy when comparing his performance to Alonso´s. I for one always pointed out the fact that his car was not the same as Fernando´s. The team couldn´t even fit him with a custom seat, for crying out loud! let alone a decent package.

IMO Tarso is very underated. He deserves a chance in a good ride, in F1 or elsewhere, at least we would be able to tell if he sucks or it´s just the car...

[Dudley]

It's worth mentioning though that when the fates conspried to leave them in each others car at Hockenheim, Alonso still drove into the distance.

[berge]

Originally posted by molive
Everybody that bashed Tarso this year should apologize to his fans.

done

[garth_b]

The Minardi's certainly suffered from poor reliability this year. I have just about finished putting together a webpage of last years results and the Minardi's had at least one finisher, and often 2, in almost every race. Their highest finish last year was 8th and they frequently finished ahead of other teams. I think Tarso and Alonso were hampered by this lack of reliability. It would have been interesting t have seen their results had they been in the 2000 feild.

[senninha]

Originally posted by Dudley
It's worth mentioning though that when the fates conspried to leave them in each others car at Hockenheim, Alonso still drove into the distance.

I still waiting for some appologize .

Afterall, do mistakes is human. Repeat the same mistakes is be dumb ...

[flyer72]

Originally posted by Force Ten
Do you hope that Paul PAYS for his driver more or do you hope that there is an existing Minardi team - which do you hope more?

Minardi NEEDS a driver able to finish races. With 2 paydrivers with no exceptional talent that might be hard.....
Tarso, on the other hand, is able to finish in the 2nd Minardi..... If Minardi decides to get another paydriver ala Yoong, sure the money will be there, but only for a while! If there are no good results who wants to sponsor them? Noone.
With Tarso they will at least have a chance to finish.

Tarso was sidestepped because the team badly needed money. He knew this and wasn't surprised to see a paydriver come in. Alonso did a good job and brought some sort of money to the team. Tarso knew it was only a matter of time before he would be sidestepped, sadly he lacks sponsors.

Paul Stoddart said in the interview that he might get a driver with sponsorship or he might pay his driver! Cash is already coming from Yoong....

Stoddart will give Tarso a chance next year, if not as a racedriver he will be testing.

If I want Paul to pay his driver or for Minardi to exist? Well, it would be pretty bad if Minardi had two sponsored drivers only to see no sponsors for next season. Does that answer your q?

I personally would cheer on Tarso but if another paydriver comes in..... I'm not so sure. I like Minardi, but paydrivers can only pay so much....

[marglar]

Originally posted by Jackdaw

Incidentally, in a different part of the article Stoddart says neither Webber nor Karthikeyan is at the top of his list either. Who will the mystery driver be!?

Found this on F1.on.net.

Minardi put Frentzen on most wanted list

European Minardi team boss Paul Stoddart is keen to employ an experienced driver to replace the departing Fernando Alonso, and at the top of his list is former Jordan driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

The German has been linked with both his current team Prost and Arrows for a seat in 2002 in recent days as well and Stoddart has also now expressed his interest in the driver, who is one of the sport's most senior and experienced driver.

"Heinz-Harald would be my first choice to replace Fernando," Stoddart told Motorsport News.

"I have a big affiliation with him."

I'd rather see the return of Marc Gene to the team but since thats not gonna happen, HHF is the next best candidate IMO.

[MinardiRules]

Yes, I think Gene's talent is totally wasted at the moment, I'd love to see him back in the races. But like so many others, he's probably tied up in a contract that makes it impossible for him to race for another team.

Am I the only one who gets the feeling that sometimes drivers are signed up just so that the opposition can't get them?

[Pikachu Racing]

FREE MARC GENE!!! WE WANT HIM TO RACE IN 2002!!!

[lulup]

Originally posted by Pikachu Racing
FREE MARC GENE!!! WE WANT HIM TO RACE IN 2002!!!

I read in somewhere stated that those test driver contract has a clause state that if that test driver(Gene)can find a race seat in other team(Minardi).And at the same time,the original team(Williams) can't provide a race seat,that test driver can leave the original team to join that "other team"(Minardi).


So,Stoddart admited that "the best equipment was always on Fernando's car"!!!
But the ? is was it still happened after AY brought $ in?
Does it mean AY and FA'car are equal,after AY brought enough $ to the team???
Or FA's car was still always got the best equipment ???

I seems very strange to me!
Why put all the efforts on a driver,who's loan from other team,to make him better?And let other other team take him back!
You make him better,He leave you faster!

[Peter Perfect]

HHF to Minardi!

It'd be great to see a driver who's a known quantity take the car to the limit and see what happens.