Verstappen commits to Arrows for 2002

Arrows announced at the Nurburgring that the Dutchman's contract has been extended into a third straight season.

It will be his fourth year at the team because he drove for them in 1996, before they split over his wage demands.

Verstappen, who gained worldwide fame for surviving a pitlane inferno while he was Michael Schumacher's team mate at Benetton in 1994, scored five points for Arrows last year as they won awards as the Most Improved Team.

After eight races of this season, he is 15th in the drivers' championship after collecting one point from his sixth-placed finish in Austria.

Arrows, sponsored by mobile phone giant Orange, claims Verstappen has made 59 separate overtaking manoeuvres in 2001, which is more than any other driver on the grid.

"I am very happy to stay for another year as continuity in Formula 1 can never be underestimated," said Verstappen ahead of this Sunday's European Grand Prix.

"I have huge confidence in the Orange Arrows team and this shows they have confidence in me too. It is great that we have been able to do this at such an early stage in the season as it motivates me to focus on my driving without worrying about anything else.

"I would like to say thank you for (team principal) Tom (Walkinshaw) for having faith in me and providing the stability to help me progress."

Walkinshaw added: "We're extremely happy that Jos has agreed to stay with Arrows. We had an option on him for 2002 and Jos has agreed that we can exercise that option.

"Jos has shown this year that he is a fantastic racing driver who is improving all the time, so we are very much looking forward to seeing him drive this team up the rankings for the second half of this season and the next."