Stoddart: Verstappen Still Has a Chance

Hungarian Zsolt Baumgartner has a 90 percent chance of driving for Minardi in Formula One next season but it is still not too late for Dutch driver Jos Verstappen, team boss Paul Stoddart said today.

"It is a provisional deal and there are a few minor commercial things that have to be sorted out," the Australian told Reuters. "I'd rate his (Baumgartner's) chances at 90 percent."

Minardi, last in the 2003 Championship with no points, said on Wednesday that they had offered the 22-year-old Baumgartner a drive for 2004 and hoped to complete the deal within a week. The Hungarian has two Grands Prix under his belt as a replacement for Jordan's injured Ralph Firman in Hungary and Italy this year.

"He didn't do any damage, he was sensible and if he's going to develop he needs to do it in a team like ours," said Stoddart.

He said that Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who promotes the Hungarian Grand Prix and is a shareholder in Minardi, had played a small part in the deal.

"Bernie's only involvement in this was to say would I be interested?," said Stoddart. "It was simply an introduction."

Verstappen drove for Minardi this season, bringing important Dutch sponsorship with him, but he has been looking to Jordan after failing to secure a seat at Jaguar. Stoddart said he hoped the 31-year-old would stay in Formula One.

"Don't write Jos off," he said. "He's still got a chance at Jordan and an outside chance here if something goes wrong. I don't have any issues with Jos. He is too good a driver to just retire. I have an enormous respect for Jos's talent and experience."

While Verstappen can count on considerable sponsorship, Stoddart said there were two other would-be Formula One drivers looking for an opportunity who could bring even more money than the Dutchman. He declined to name them.