Stoddart to Decide on Yoong's Future Next Week

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart said on Tuesday that he will wait until next Monday before making a decision on whether or not to replace struggling Malaysian driver Alex Yoong.

The Australian team chief admitted after the German Grand Prix nine days ago that he may have to replace Yoong, who failed to qualify for the third time this season at the Hockenheim event.

But he has been annoyed by the heavy speculation which has grown over who will replace the 25-year-old because he has not yet decided whether Yoong will be forced to sit out next weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.

"I want to set the record straight once and for all," said Stoddart. "There has been no decision made and that decision will be made on Monday next week. Everything before then is just pure speculation.

"I can firmly say that we would never desert a driver, but we need to make sure he is confident of qualifying in Hungary and if he is not then we will rest him for a couple of races and help him get his confidence back.

"It is no different to a footballer - if they suffer a drop in form then they get demoted to the reserves and that is just what we would do with Alex."

Stoddart said that Yoong's recent lack of confidence has come at possibly the worst time for the team because there has been no testing allowed during the mid-season break.

But the Malaysian will have discussions with Stoddart after returning to the wheel of his Minardi this weekend, when he takes part in the team's 'Thunder in the Park' event at Donington Park.