Exclusive: Stoddart Threatens to Sue Walkinshaw

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart has issued a warning today to Arrows team boss Tom Walkinshaw, stating he will sue the rival team owner if Minardi does not receive the TV prize money which he claims is legally his.

Stoddart told Atlas F1 that Walkinshaw has circulated a document among the other team owners, calling them not to release the prize money to Minardi, but rather distribute it among the other teams.

According to Stoddart, Walkinshaw's document was issued to counter-argue Stoddart's own document - which requested all team owners to sign the release of the prize money, estimated at £12 million UK.

Stoddart claims the prize money is owed to Minardi regardless of Prost's demise. According to him, the prize money is distributed in two different means: one is handed every year to all teams that have finished at least 10th in two of the past three seasons. The second is based on the previous year's standings.

Minardi finished 10th in 1999 and 2000. Therefore, Stoddart says, "the money is ours legally. No question about it. I want to emphasise: we are not after Prost's money. We only want what is rightfully ours."

In order to receive this money, however, Stoddart needs the signatures of all other team owners. To that end, he has circulated a document among the teams this weekend, "and some have already signed it," he said.

However, Stoddart told Atlas F1 he found out today that rival team owner Walkinshaw has released a document of his own - "which he didn't send to us obviously," Stoddart said - claiming all prize money should be distributed among the top nine teams of last year, leaving out Minardi (and Toyota, who did not compete in last year's Championship).

"I was passive about it until now, thinking that this will be sorted out in next week's meeting," Stoddart said, referring to the team owners' meeting next week in London - where the issue of the Minardi money is expected to be discussed.

"But this Walkinshaw letter means war and the gloves are off. If Minardi will not receive the money that is rightfully ours, I will sue Walkinshaw and any other team owner who prevented us from getting it.

"As far as I'm concerned," Stoddart added, "I will see Walkinshaw in Court."