Frentzen Not Planning to Stop Racing Yet

German Heinz-Harald Frentzen revealed on Saturday that he is talking to some Formula One teams to secure a drive for the 2003 season, and at the same time, ruled out the possibility of retiring from the sport.

"Yes, I am talking to a couple of teams," Frentzen, who drives for the debt-ridden Arrows team, said today in Germany. "I am thinking of the future, but if it is with Arrows I can't tell you at the moment. I am certainly not thinking of stopping, otherwise it would have been a good moment here in Hockenheim to say I am retiring."

Frentzen added strength to the rumours that he is being targeted by Jordan for a return to the team next season by admitting on Saturday that Jordan sponsors Deutsche Post are keen to sign a German driver for 2003.

Frentzen was dismissed by Jordan just before last year's German Grand Prix almost one year ago but has been linked to a comeback along with Ford engines, which the team used in their debut season in 1991, as part of a deal funded by the Deutsche Post.

The three-time race winner, however, said that team boss Eddie Jordan must apologise for the controversial sacking if he is to return next year.

"I have to say, Deutsche Post is quite keen to have a German driver but I think to go back to Eddie's team there has to be something sorted which is quite important: I didn't sack Eddie, Eddie sacked me," he said.

The German said that he is confident that Jordan's newly developed technical team of Gary Anderson and Henri Durand will work well for the Silverstone-based squad and suggested that their presence would be a strong influence in any decision to return.

"I have great faith in them and it would be nice to work with them again," Frentzen said. "They are two people who I really think are good for the team. Gary was basically the father of the 1999 Jordan, and Henri I knew from Prost and he was a pretty good guy to work with."

The fact that Frentzen is still in legal proceedings with the team over his sacking last year and Arrows are currently in a serious financial position would add further complications to an already complicated but possible deal.

Deutsche Post boss Professor Schukies tried to convince Frentzen to drive for the team in the last race in France, when Giancarlo Fisichella was injured in a practice crash. That attempt failed because of the potential repercussions with Frentzen's current team principal Tom Walkinshaw, but the German admitted he is talking to several teams, one of which is likely to be Jordan, over a possible move in 2003.

Frentzen insisted that, given his current discussions, he is confident that he will race in Formula One next year, although he is keen for Walkinshaw to sort out Arrows' financial problems before making a decision where that will be.

"I need a decision for the future here within the team really before thinking about ahead," he said. "That period of time will happen now in August, I am quite sure about that."