By Huw Alban
April 27 2002

Heinz-Harald Frentzen's manager says he is optimistic about getting a drive with Arrows this season. And with Mark Webber signing for Minardi yesterday, the musical chairs game that will determine who gets the remaining F1 seat has begun. The minute Alain Prost announced that the team was to be liquidated, Jos Verstappen would have known he was under pressure.

Frentzen has always preferred the option of driving for a team with a competitive engine, than taking the money and going to Minardi

Heinz-Harald had said he was waiting to see what became of Prost before finalising his plans for 2002. But his manager Monty Field has now revealed that the German was targeting an Arrows drive all along.

He told Reuters: "We're still talking to Arrows, our basic goal for quite some time has been to do a deal with Arrows. We just hope everything goes in the right direction."

It was announced six months ago that Jos Verstappen would be staying with Arrows for 2002 but it seems that despite Verstappen's enormous popularity with Dutch F1 fans, team boss Tom Walkinshaw has now had a change of heart.

Though it may not be a cut-and-dried decision that Jos is 'out' and HHF is 'in'. There is always a bottom line when times are tough in F1 and it couldn't be tougher than it is now. With Ford failing to buy Arrows' wind tunnel the team are short of cash. If Jos can get together enough backers then he might be able to buy his way back.

No offence to Heinz-Harald, but with Heidfeld and the Schumacher brothers shining in the grand prix limelight, the F1 hopes of the German nation aren't exactly resting on HHF's shoulders. Dutch F1 fans need Jos in a race seat and supporting his bid to stay at Arrows is their only route to staying 'involved' in the 2002 season.

This one could have some mileage to go yet.