Minardi Keen for Verstappen to Stay

Struggling Minardi hope to persuade Dutch Formula One driver Jos Verstappen to stay with them next season.

"I'm hoping that we can retain Jos for next year and we are still in negotiations," team owner Paul Stoddart told Reuters by telephone from Australia on Wednesday.

"I think he's got a good chance of staying with us and it comes down to what he wants to do," added the aviation entrepreneur. "Jos has got a lot left in him before he hangs up his spurs. I think he could do a lot worse than driving for us."

The Dutchman, frustrated by the tail-end team's lack of pace last season, had set his sights on the second seat at Jaguar before they signed Austrian Christian Klien. Jordan are the only team other than Minardi with remaining vacancies but they have options on German Nick Heidfeld and Briton Ralph Firman.

Verstappen, a close friend of Ferrari's six-times World Champion Michael Schumacher since they were Benetton teammates in 1994, would bring Minardi substantial backing from his Dutch sponsors.

The team, the only ones who failed to score a point in 2003, hope to announce at least one signing before the end of the year with Italian Gianmaria Bruni a frontrunner providing he can raise financial backing.

"We are still hopeful that we'll see a young talent signed up this side of Christmas," said Stoddart.

Briton Justin Wilson, a rookie with Minardi in 2003 before moving up to Jaguar for the last five races of the season, also figures high on Stoddart's wish list now that he is again looking for a drive.

"I've got a bit of a soft spot for Justin," he said. "If I were in the position where the drive was going to go to someone who didn't have a full budget, he'd be top of my list. I've got unfinished business with Justin and I've got a lot of faith in him."

Minardi are testing five drivers at the Vallelunga circuit near Rome this week, with Renault development driver Jose Maria Lopez of Argentina and Italian Fabrizio del Monte in action on Wednesday.

Finland's Heikki Kovalainen, another highly regarded young Renault prospect, will test later in the week with India's Narain Karthikeyan and 20-year-old Austrian Norbert Siedler.

"There's one or two I want to have a good look at," said Stoddart. "One in particular has a real future."