After the 1995 Monaco Grand Prix Simtek went into bankruptcy due to the financial situation of the team. In the aftermath Jos Verstappen lost his seat on the grid as well. Rumours went that Verstappen was in talks with Ligier, McLaren, Sauber and Footwork for a seat in 1996. Eventually Verstappen signed for Footwork Hart. What many forgot is that there was another Dutch driver in the scope for a
Impossible in today’s Formula One was possible in the past of Formula One. There was a time that any time could test on any time he liked. To improve their cars, to give youngsters their first taste of Formula One, or simply to cash. Because testing was all about talent and money back in the days. Most of the drivers that tested are long forgotten or never arrived in the
Jos Verstappen drove in 2003 for the Minardi team, and if you ask me, he did a marvellous job with the PS03B. For 2004, he could even stay with the team according to Paul Stoddart. Only did Verstappen had other thoughts, as he did not want to race for a backmarker in 2004. There were a few options left Jordan, Sauber and Jaguar Racing. Let Jaguar Racing made an offer
Many drivers tested for the Minardi team during the years. There are also a bunch of drivers that should test though did not test with the car for many reasons. As well, there are some unknowns of drivers if they did or did not test. Like Taki Inoue that seemed to have tested with the M195B.Several sources state that he did. Several sources say he didn't. What to think of
Scuderia Minardi and later Minardi F1 Team, the small Italian team we all love. They did what many team didn’t they survived 20 years in the Formula One on a tight budget. Their hay days were in the early 1990s when Gustav Brunner designed the M193 and Aldo Costa the M191. However, always with a tight budget it meant that many drivers were able to fulfil their dream to a
It’s time to make a special for the did you know articles. A special dedicated to the small Simtek team that was active in the Formula One in 1994 and 1995. Probably you link the team with the dead of Roland Ratzenberger during the Grand Prix on Imola. Or perhaps Jos Verstappen that showed the real potential of the Simtek S951. However, there are a lot of facts and stories
Did you know? Is a new series of articles about stories, facts, news and anecdotes about the Formula One the most of us have forgotten. It are those forgotten little facts that make the sport we love so interesting. As I love to dig into a lot of magazines such as as Autosport MotorSportMagazine and so on it is easy investigation to do. Did you know: That James Hunt signed
Did you know? Is a new series of articles about stories, facts, news and anecdotes about the Formula One the most of us have forgotten. It are those forgotten little facts that make the sport we love so interesting. As I love to dig into a lot of magazines such as as Autosport MotorSportMagazine and so on it is easy investigation to do. Did you know: That Cees Siewertsen tested
It is February 2004 when suddenly in the Dutch media the news appears that Tom Coronel is close to sign a deal with the Minardi Team to be their third driver in 2004. Besides that, Tom would test for the team in the summer probably a Vallelunga or Misano with the Minardi PS04A. As well, he would be one of the drivers for the Minardi two-seaters program and do demonstration
It’s the summer of 2002, the Orange Arrows team from Tom Walkinshaw is on the edge of bankruptcy. It’s the summer Paul Stoddart loves to see Walkinshaw burning and will have the ultimate payback in 2003 when purchasing most of the team’s assets in favour of his Minardi team. Moreover, it is the summer of many rumours in and outside the paddock. Arrows is sold to an American, Arrows is