By Huw Alban
April 27 2002

In an exclusive interview with F1Racing.net, Toyota's Mika Salo has hit out at OrangeArrows team boss Tom Walkinshaw and invited Dutchman Jos Verstappen to join Toyota as test driver if he gets the boot from Arrows. The two know each other well from being teammates in Tyrrell in 1997. F1Racing.net caught up with Mika Salo at Valencia where the Toyota team have been putting their first F1 car through it's paces.
Mika feels a kinship with Verstappen because he was in a similar position to the Dutchman, at Arrows at the beginning of 1999 where Salo was sacked shortly before the Australian Grand Prix. Jos Verstappen has not been officially confirmed by Arrows, and the fans are worried that his position has come under threat by the appearance of Heinz-Harald Frentzen on the driver market. This concern continues despite a recent statement from Verstappen's management that his 2002 contract is secure.

"It is sad what Tom is doing," said Salo during F1Racing.net's interview. "But to be honest I hope Jos will not be driving at Arrows, because I want him to join Toyota as a test driver. I really like Jos, but of course it is not my team and not up to me to decide, but I definately want Jos to drive for us."

One eagle-eyed visitor to this site has also noticed that Jos Verstappen's profile on the official Arrows website has not been updated with his 2001 performances - Enrique Bernoldi's has !

Maybe Salo will get his wish after all - the evidence is starting to stack up against Verstappen !