Yoong Not Planning to Quit

Malaysian Minardi driver Alex Yoong has denied his own father's suggestion that he was likely to quit Formula One at the end of the season.

Yoong, who has failed to qualify for two of the 10 races so far this season but brings in important Malaysian sponsorship, said that his father Hanifah's comments had been taken out of context.

"That has nothing to do with what I think or what I have planned," the 25-year-old said. "What he said was just what he felt I may be thinking.

"His feeling that Minardi may not renew my contract is just a speculation based on the results so far and it has not come from myself or the team.

"I am just concentrating with the work I need to do and to do the best I can for the rest of the season. The news report that I will quit is just rubbish."

Yoong, Malaysia's first and only Formula One driver, said Minardi have until November to decide whether to exercise their option on him for 2003 and he criticised negative voices in his home media.

"Some media in Malaysia are just so negative that it seems they would be gratified to see me go," he said. "In order to succeed one must not be afraid of failure. I will carry on till there is no possibility to continue."

Yoong failed to qualify for the British Grand Prix last weekend, following the San Marino race at Imola in April where he was also not fast enough. But team boss Paul Stoddart said last weekend that he did not hold the Silverstone failure against his driver.