Grapevine: Baumgartner in Sponsorship Trouble

Minardi driver Zsolt Baumgartner may fail to appear on the 2004 Formula One grid after the Hungarian press reported on Friday that one of his main backers, oil company Mol Rt., wanted to reduce the amount of sponsorship promised to him last year.

Mol Rt. spokeswoman Bea Lukacs told Hungarian television RTL Klub that the company decided to review its position because Baumgartner has signed for Minardi instead of Jordan, contrary to his original plans.

"We had signed a memorandum of understanding last year, which has only been valid in specific circumstances. This memorandum was not a binding agreement. Mol Rt. started the negotiations in light of the conditions, which have changed since then," the spokeswoman said.

23-year-old Baumgartner, who signed a race contract with Minardi for the 2004 season last December, had originally been offered a seat by Jordan, after making his Formula One debut with them at the Hungarian Grand Prix in August. However, his management couldn't raise the funds wanted by the Silverstone-based squad, and therefore contacted Minardi owner Paul Stoddart about the drive.

Mol Rt. has reportedly promised Baumgartner $US 1.5 million last year. According to RTL Klub, the company wants to reduce this sum by about $US 470,000, although local radio station Klub Radio reported that it refused to pay him more than $US 284,000.

Whichever is the truth, Baumgartner faces serious trouble, since the Hungarian Ministry of Sports and Youth was only willing to pay him the same amount of money he raised from private sponsors, and without the government backing he wouldn't be able to get the Minardi seat.

The government has "invested" in Baumgartner's career by setting up a company that owns all his marketing rights, and Viktor Szigetvari, spokesman to the Ministry of Sports and Youth confirmed to RTL Klub on Friday that they still maintained the offer. However, he added, "now it's Baumgartner's turn to come up with the $US 4 million sponsorship, which is prerequisite for the government backing."

His manager, Tamas Frank was unavailable for comment, though Baumgartner said he "hoped" the matter would be cleared up.

"I've heard the reports. I hope this is only a misunderstanding and my management will be able to sort it out soon. In any case, I will continue my preparations in the same way as before," he told Hungarian news agency MTI.

Baumgartner, who has finished 12th in last year's Italian Grand Prix in Monza, would become the first Hungarian to have a permanent drive in Formula One.