Stoddart: Wilson is too good for us

Wilson, who has gained universal praise for his race performances so far this season in the under-powered and under-financed Minardi PS03, has been linked to a switch to both Jaguar and BAR-Honda in 2004.

"I can assure you that Justin will be racing in F1 again next year, but not here," Stoddart told the Daily Mirror he has impressed a lot of people. What he has achieved this year has not gone unnoticed.

"I would have liked to have kept hold of him but I understand his position. He is good enough and deserves to be racing for a team with a bigger budget than we have. That is just what will happen."

Wilson, who raised £1.2m with an innovative share offer to secure his drive this year, has been tipped to replace Antonio Pizzonia at Jaguar, but Wilson insists that a deal has not yet been signed for 2004.

"Jonathan Palmer [Wilson's manager] is speaking to other people yes, but of course there are no guarantees until you have something on paper.

"I want to be competing in Formula 1. And, of course, the goal is to be racing in the best team available to me. It would be nice to be with a strong team that allows me to keep improving and gives me the chance to compete to win races."

"But as with all of these things, much depends on what other drivers are doing and what their movements are. Other things need to fall into place before we know exactly what's going to happen."