Minardi Future to be Decided in 'Next Few Days'

The future of the Minardi Grand Prix team could be decided in the next few days after the subject of the Anglo-Italian outfit dominated the discussions between Formula One's 11 team bosses at a Heathrow Airport hotel on Thursday.

Minardi team boss Paul Stoddart confirmed that the topic was discussed at length at the gathering held 13 days before the FIA Motor Sport Council meet in Paris to discuss future proposals for the sport.

"It was a long meeting and the issue was discussed at length," Stoddart admitted. "Hopefully there will be a favourable solution in the next few days and we will be at liberty at the Nurburgring to say more about Minardi's future when we know the outcome."

Australian Stoddart is fighting to be given around £8 million awarded to the extinct Prost team to help pay their travel expenses after they ended last season in the top ten in the Constructors' Championship.

Minardi finished 11th in the table and therefore failed to qualify for the cash but Stoddart argues that Prost's subsequent bankruptcy in February pushes his team up the order.

But several rival team bosses refute Stoddart's right to claim the money and have argued that the money should be shared amongst all of the teams on the grid. Arrows boss Tom Walkinshaw drew up a document that was signed by five team chiefs opposing the Minardi view before the Canadian Grand Prix last weekend.

However, Thursday's meeting, also attended by Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone and FIA president Max Mosley, promoted a frank exchange of views as the near 50-50 split ensured that most of the other proposed ideas were put back on the agenda.

Stoddart added that there would be further discussions during the next three days in the hope of resolving the dispute.

He said: "I still hope that there we will be able to confirm our participation for the rest of the year."

Other subjects due to be discussed was the proposed creation of an engine manufacturers' championship, the right to sell customer chassis to other teams and a further reduction in testing to cut costs.