Webber to Test for Minardi Next Week

Australian Mark Webber will test for Minardi in Spain next week, the Formula One team's boss Paul Stoddart said on Friday.

"He's in the car Thursday and Friday in Valencia. I had a meeting with him here earlier today," the Australian-born businessman told Reuters at the Autosport International show. "We'll see. We're not making any decisions because we don't have to."

Aviation millionaire Stoddart bought Minardi a year ago when the Italian team had no engine, drivers or title sponsor and looked about to go under. They failed to score a point once again last season but Malaysian Alex Yoong has been signed, bringing with him a flow of much-needed Malaysian sponsorship.

Highly-rated Spaniard Fernando Alonso was Minardi's main driver in 2001 but he has joined Renault as their tester and the vacancy has yet to be filled. Webber was Renault's test driver last year and previously teamed up with Stoddart in Formula 3000. The Australian also competed in that Formula in 2001.

"There are one or two other good drivers out there, unlike last year," said Stoddart. "This time last year there wasn't a lot of drivers about. This year I could probably get to 10 before I'd have to stop and pause for breath.

"There are good quality drivers that don't have a drive. Many of them are in F1 testing contracts that can be broken like that if there's an F1 drive. The drivers that I will go for without (them bringing a) budget are your Frentzens and your Verstappens. Everyone else needs money. We're very clear on this. We want a good driver to partner Alex."

German Heinz-Harald Frentzen finished last season with Prost but has been talking to Arrows, who confirmed on Friday that Brazilian Enrique Bernoldi would be staying. Dutch driver Jos Verstappen also has an Arrows contract.

"We'll be testing one or two potentials over the next couple of weeks. There are certain drivers that we'd love to test but contractually we can't," said Stoddart.