Tarso Marques made his debut in the Formula One in 1996 with Minardi when he drove for the team during the Brazilian and Argentinian Grand Prix. For 1997 the team hired Tarso again he would take place behind the wheel of the M197 from the French Grand Prix on. He replaced Jarno Trulli, who was a protégé from Flavio Briatore, as he would replace Oliver Panis at Prost Grand Prix. After the season ended Marques moved to the states to race in the CART championship. In 2001 he returned to Minardi and would stay with them until the Belgian Grand Prix. Alex Yoong would replace him. Though, in 2005 rumours appeared that Marques would once again return to the Formula One!
Tarso Marques was rumoured in 2002 to race for Phoenix Grand Prix next to Gastón Mazzacane. He wasn’t racing in 2002 at all. For 2003 he returned to the circuit when he appeared at the start of the 31° ediçao da Mil Milhas Brasileiras at Interlagos. In 2004 he returned to full time racing. When he returned to the Champ Car World Series and made his debut in the FIA GT Championship. Only competing in one Champ Car race in 2005 rumours appeared that Marques was close to sign a deal with Midland F1. At that time it was still Jordan Grand Prix.
The rumour appeared around the same time when Nicky Pastorelli was struggling. Some of his sponsors pulled out of the deal with Jordan Grand Prix. He was the teams third and test driver in 2005.
Marques himself stated, during a test session for the Brazilian V8 Stock Cars at Interlagos, in November 2005 that he would announce in early December that he would return in the Formula One the next season. The finance were secured and he was the top guy for the position.
The news would be that he signed a contract with Midland to be their third driver in 2006. With a possibility to become one of their drivers in 2007. However, he had at that time competition from at least two drivers Markus Winkelhock and Fabrizio del Monte. Roman Rusinov was also rumoured at that point.
Eventually it seemed that the financial side for the deal was not enough. Eventually, Tarso did not move to Midland. He moved to the Brazilian Stock Car Championship where he would win several races. In 2022 he made his debut in the Nascar series. He also has his own company Tarso Marques Company.
