Minardi eyes Dutch talent

Minardi recently confirmed its entry to the 2005 championship, plus a supply of Cosworth engines for next year, and is now contemplating drivers. There's quite a number of names on boss Paul Stoddart's list but Dutchmen seem to be the flavour for the Faenza squad.

"We're talking with three Dutch drivers and ten drivers from other nationalities. Everything is still open," Stoddart told Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad.

Rumour has it that Robert Doornbos, who was test driver for Jordan for the last few races of 2004, Jos Verstappen and DTM star Christijan Albers are under consideration by Stoddart. Albers was previously a tester for Minardi, while Verstappen was in talks with Jordan early this year.

"The confusing times there were last year between Verstappen and Jordan we don't want to happen again," said Stoddart, in regard to the wrangles that went on between Jos and the Silverstone based team. "Until things are cleared up, and signed, we won't go into details."

Albers is reportedly due to test with Jordan in December, an arrangement that was postponed while Christijan concentrated on his DTM season with Mercedes. The manufacturer recently signed ex-F1 star Mika Hakkinen to race in 2005, prompting rumours that Albers is the one that will exit the HWA squad.