By Huw Alban
April 27 2002

Site contributor Wilco has emailed this site with another spin on a Frentzen story. Racereport.nl is making many claims, but don't forget that the OrangeArrows team themselves have told this site that there is "still no news" on the driver front ! Racereport.nl claim that Heinz-Harald Frentzen is concerned that he will not get the Arrows drive, and he should be. OrangeArrows have the only unconfirmed seat left on the 2002 grid.

The report also states that he wanted a salary for 2002 of $3.5million, but has now reduced that expectation to $1.5million. In addition his deal with the team would secure extra payment if he were to score points for Arrows during 2002.

The only other point that Wilco was kind enough to translate for the site was that Frentzen will not bring a sponsor with him, but the team are talking to a prospective German sponsor who is keen if Frentzen gets the drive.

Before all of Jos Verstappen fandom go beserk over this, lets just consider the real facts:

1. The 2002 option on Verstappen's contract was exercised by OrangeArrows in June of last year.

2. Verstappen's management have repeatedly claimed that they are not worried about the future status of the Dutchman.

3. Jos himself at the recent fan club meeting was unconcerned about the Frentzen rumours, and admitted to talking to Tom Walkinshaw often.

4. Jos has been to the factory on several occasions for a seat fitting (he said so at the fan club meeting).

5. The team have had discussions with Frentzen (admitted openly by Monte Field). No details of the nature of the discussions has been released.

The official word from OrangeArrows on this subject is, "As far as the other driver is concerned there is still no news." In other words nothing has changed - anything else we read, apart from the official announcements from the team, can be enterpreted as speculation and nothing else.

Several F1 news sites are saying that we'll know something tomorrow, but OrangeArrows have not confirmed that any announcements will take place.