Jordan blames Jos' manager

Verstappen had engaged in prolonged negotiations with Jordan about securing a seat with the team, but eventually withdrew from negotiations over "contractual obstacles." On Friday, Jordan signed Formula 3000 graduate Giorgio Pantano.

A statement released by the Jordan team praised the "hard work" done by Verstappen's major sponsors to secure a deal. "The team had excellent negotiations with Michel Perridon of Trust and Harrie Mermanns of the Murmanns Group," it said.

Jordan blamed the collapse of the negotiations on what it described as the "intransigence" of Rothengatter, asserting that the manager demanded an "exorbitant commission" on sponsorship.

Eddie Jordan added: "It was a very sad conclusion. We had a good faith agreement with the sponsors who acted positively at all times and it is not good for the sport for such valuable people to be treated this way by an agent."



Michael Perridon has subsequently insisted that Trust will still support Verstappen's F1 ambitions, but not if the driver retains the same management.

"Our support of Jos still stands, just not with the same management," said Perridon. "If there's a possibility to grab a seat during the coming season then we want to use it 100 percent and not be hindered by the high demands of Jos' management."

Rothengatter said that he was "completely shocked" by Jordan and Perridon's comments, but said: "I don't want to comment on it at the moment." Last week, Verstappen insisted that he would "never" drop Rothengatter as his manager.