Minardi: Stoddart more confident

Grand Prix team bosses met once again to discuss the issue at Nurburgring on Friday, and although there was no official shift in position - with five teams apparently opposing the payment - Stoddart now seems more confident he will get the money.

Asked whether he could make the planned announcement that Minardi will finish the season, Stoddart replied: "I think I can. I say that with hesitation because nothing is done until it's done - and the money is not in the bank until it's in. But I do feel that Minardi will be completing the season. If something stops that now, it won't be something I can foresee standing here now."

FIA president Max Mosley last week pushed for Minardi to be paid out, but Bernie Ecclestone allegedly had a concern that paying the money could leave his company open to action from dissenting teams.

Regarding that outcome, Stoddart added: "Max found a solution, Bernie is complying with that solution and if any of the teams think that either Max, Bernie, me or anyone else is wrong, then they have rights of arbitration and can commence it. My personal opinion, for what it's worth, is that they would not be successful."

Stoddart says that Minardi will be at Silverstone in a fortnight. And if the cheque is not in the post by then? "I suppose we go and fight all over again in France. I just hope that doesn't happen..."