Minardi Optimistic after F1 Bosses Meet

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart sounded confident on Friday that his team would complete the Formula One season after months of wrangling over disputed television money.

Asked after a meeting of team bosses at the European Grand Prix whether he expected to be able to confirm Minardi's continued presence next week, he replied: "I think I can. I say that with hesitation because nothing's done until it's done and the money's not in until it's in.

"But I do feel that Minardi will be completing the season. If something stops that now, it won't be something that I can foresee as I stand here now."

Stoddart has been embroiled in prolonged wrangling with other team bosses over revenues originally earmarked for the Prost team which was declared bankrupt in January. The Australian businessman has said the money is due to his cash-strapped team while several other team principals disagree and want the matter to go to arbitration.

However, International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley last week instructed Formula One's supremo Bernie Ecclestone to pay the money and Stoddart expected that to happen on Monday.

"It arguably is settled. It was settled when Max wrote a letter to Bernie and I believe Bernie will act upon that letter," he told reporters. "Whether all the teams are happy about it, that's for them to make comments. If they are not happy then clearly they have a legal recourse which is arbitration."

David Richards, boss of British American Racing (BAR) said he also expected a resolution of the issue over the weekend.

"There is no question that the teams want to see an equitable solution," he told Reuters. "But we have within the agreements very well-structured procedures for resolving any differences like this.

"I think the basic decision today was that we will have a solution within the next 48 hours. Hopefully that will appease everybody. We are relying a lot on Bernie to resolve matters and I think that is the likely outcome."