Grapevine: Frentzen Set to Replace Verstappen at Arrows

Heinz-Harald Frentzen is set to join the Arrows team and the German driver could test the new A23 next week, according to a report by German press agency DPA.

Arrows are the only team left to complete their drivers line-up for the 2002 season, and rumours about Frentzen replacing Dutchman Jos Verstappen have been constant after the German's Prost team went into liquidation last month.

According to reports, Frentzen could be announced as Enrique Bernoldi's teammate next Thursday and the 34-year old could make his debut with Arrows during testing at Valencia next week.

But Arrows spokeswoman Emily Taylor said that there was no confirmation as to the identity of who would partner Bernoldi for the new season.

"We are aware of the report but we have no further news at the moment," Taylor said. "Tom (Walkinshaw) may well have made a decision but we cannot confirm anything at this time."

Only last week, Verstappen's manager Huub Rothengatter said that he was confident that Arrows owner Tom Walkinshaw would keep his word and give the former Benetton driver a race seat in 2002.

"I am not worried about Jos' contractual relationship with Arrows as we have a signed contract for 2002," Rothengatter said. "That contract states that Jos is driving with Arrows. I am sure Tom Walkinshaw will fulfil his contractual obligations completely as they were agreed back in June 2001."

Verstappen, who already drove for Arrows in 2001, signed a one-year extension of his contract last season but the Leafield-based team have already admitted that they were talking to both the Dutchman and Frentzen in order to fill the second seat.

Verstappen's official website on Tuesday published a report, citing "reliable sources", claiming that the deal with Frentzen would be announced tomorrow. Meanwhile, Verstappen is believed to be talking to the new Toyota team in order to land a test driver contract for this season.