Formula 1
Wilson in line for Minardi drive
F3000 champion Justin Wilson is being considered for Formula One with Minardi next year. Wilson formerly tested for Jordan but his height, six foot three, caused him problems in securing a drive in F1 due to safety regulations. Minardi currently ...
Published: Aug 18, 2002, 12:42 PM
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F3000 champion Justin Wilson is being considered for Formula One with Minardi next year. Wilson formerly tested for Jordan but his height, six foot three, caused him problems in securing a drive in F1 due to safety regulations. Minardi currently employ the tallest F1 driver in the shape of Mark Webber and Wilson's height could be accommodated by the 2003 Minardi, boss Paul Stoddart confirmed.
Speaking at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Stoddart told Reuters that Wilson had been considered to replace Alex Yoong but the car was not quite big enough: "It's well known that Justin Wilson was the first choice and had he fitted in the car, Anthony wouldn't have got his break," Stoddart said.
"There's no doubt that what we've learned in the last week will guarantee that our car next year will fit a driver of Justin's physique. To have been put in this predicament, where less than an inch is the difference between a guy having something he's deserved and dreamed of all his life come true and not, is very harsh. The regulations are there to enable a car to be built to accommodate Justin's size. We just didn't choose to build one (this year) because we didn't need to."
"Justin's most definitely in the frame for next year. It's pretty clear that we've got a track record now of bringing a star a year on and I intend to try and keep that up."
Should Anthony Davidson do well for Minardi he too would be on Stoddart's list for next year's drivers: "Clearly if he (Davidson) does a good job for us, then he'll be on our list of drivers that we are seeking to get in 2003," the Australian boss commented.
The future of Mark Webber is likely to be decided this weekend according to Stoddart but he's not worried about losing Webber: "It'll probably be decided this weekend actually," he said, "I think there's a fair chance that we will (lose him) and I'm not afraid of losing Mark. I need Mark to go on and do bigger and better things, he's very much a driver that I feel personally involved with and secondly we have got a good track record of bringing on one a year and I rather like that."
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