Mixed reactions from Verstappen

After sitting out 2002, Jos Verstappen was happy to return to competition with Minardi this year but so far he has mixed reactions about the PS03. The Dutchman, who last competed with Arrows in 2001, is pleased with the reliability of the car, having finished the first two races, albeit without scoring points. But he had hoped for a little more competitiveness.

"The reliability is better than I expected," he told his website. "Finishes in the first 2 Grand Prix gives the team a positive boost. I am rather disappointed with the speed of the car. I hoped the PS03 would have been a bit more competitive."

However, Vertappen thinks he was perhaps a little overoptimistic at the start of the season: "I was very positive at first but I think I overestimated it. Looking in hindsight this is understandable, I have been out of F1 for 1.5 years. Other teams kept working on their cars."

Jos is realistic about Minardi's chances in Brazil this weekend, saying there is too much of a gap between them and other teams to make up to expect a sudden improvement. But Minardi aims to capitalize on its reliability.

"If you think we can close the 1,5 second gap in this Grand Prix you're wrong," he stated. "We have to cherish the positive things. This is mainly the reliability of the PS03 and the rest we will to improve on step by step. We will need all the time we have to find the right set-up for this circuit. This is a job in itself, Interlagos is a very bumpy track."

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