By Huw Alban
September 1 2002

All of the uncertainty in securing the Arrows team’s future is having an effect right now, but might also spill over into the next Formula One season. Not only has development on the A23 ceased, but it’s doubtful that work has yet begun on 2003’s A24 model. ITV pit lane commentator, Ted Kravitz, broke the thought during the ITV coverage of the qualifying session from Spa. “I’ve been following this Arrows story all weekend,” he began. “The biggest thing that has occurred to me, and a lot of people who have talked to me, is that with a lot of the top design guys going (from the team) they are going to have a lot of troubles building next year’s car.

“Because now there is this uncertainty about who is going to buy the team, they haven’t actually started cutting metal on next year’s car. So even if this mystery American company, whoever they are, decide to buy Arrows and go through with the sale, they are going to have to go to Melbourne 2003 with this year’s car.”

“Yes, you’re right to point that out, Ted,” agreed Martin Brundle. “Time is very much of the essence. We know that the other teams are already well under way with their new designs - so at (the very) least they (the Arrows design office) are having to keep Arrows anything like competitive next year.”

With this thought in mind it is now more important than ever that the Arrows lawyers pull out all the stops to get the paperwork completed, and the money in the bank. This year’s A23 is a good car, but with Ferrari so far ahead of the rest, the entire grid will be pulling out all the stops to close the gap to the Italian team. In this climate it would be very easy for Arrows to get left behind if they field the 2002 car at the start of the 2003 season.

On the plus side the A23 has been developed this year and is reasonably reliable, and might buy the team valuable time at the beginning of 2003 to put together a new car. What’s your view? Express it on the message board.