Yoong Ready to Return after Two-Race Absence

Malaysian Alex Yoong returned to the Formula One paddock on Thursday, ready for the Italian Grand Prix after being dropped by Minardi for the past two races.

Yoong, who has failed to qualify for three races, was replaced in Hungary and Belgium by Briton Anthony Davidson alongside Australian Mark Webber. He became his country's first Formula One driver at Monza last year and confirmed on Thursday that he was now set to see out the season.

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart has said that Yoong will not be one of the team's race drivers next year but the Malaysian refused to be drawn on the future.

"I am in for the last three races of the season, next year we will see," the 26-year-old said. "My options are still...I'm just keeping my options open for next year, and trying to put myself in as good a position as I can for doing something well next year.

"Hockenheim was a big disappointment for me and to be honest I was a bit confused with what happened there, so it was good to go away," he said of his last failure to qualify. "I went back to Malaysia and got my head around what had happened, just getting my head straight really."

Yoong returned for tests at Monza last week and he said that, despite gearbox problems, it had gone well.