By subh
August 4 2002

On Friday, after much speculation on the subject, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and the Orange Arrows team had a parting of the ways, with the German looking to move on to another Formula 1 team for the future, and leaving Arrows with a seat to fill from the Hungarian Grand Prix onwards. Heinz-Harald himself has made the following statement. “OrangeArrows and I have announced today that we have agreed to bring our contractual relationship to an end. Due to the unfortunate difficulties they face, I thought it would be best to step back, so that we may both focus on our respective futures. I would like to thank the entire team for the 12 races I did for them, and wish them all the very best for the future. They have real potential and I hope they are able to reach their goals.”

Team boss Tom Walkinshaw said of the agreement, “Heinz told us that, due to the uncertainty at Arrows, he wished to stand down - and we did not want to stand in his way. I’d like to wish him all the best and thank him for the hard work he put in at Arrows.”

Although nothing further has been confirmed, this opens up a lot of speculation about the immediate future of both parties. Rumours have connected Frentzen with a return to either Jordan, presumably from next season in partnership with Giancarlo Fisichella, or Sauber, where it seems Felipe Massa may be shown the door rather sooner than that. It would be quite unusual for a driver to quit a team without having somewhere else to go, but exactly what will happen remains a mystery. Frentzen, however, has made it clear that he is still fully committed to racing in F1 at this stage.

Meanwhile, Arrows have the more pressing problem of getting a driver into the number 20 car for the next Grand Prix, at the Hungaroring in two weeks time. Two names in particular are being mentioned in this connection - those of Jos Verstappen and Sébastien Bourdais. No official comments have been made in either case, although the fact is that the Dutchman has reportedly been contacted as a possible replacement, even over the Hockenheim weekend, on the condition that legal issues between Jos and his former team are dropped as part of the deal. These issues remain complicated, and may not be simply resolved.

The Frenchman Bourdais, in the meantime, has tested for Arrows earlier in the season, and has obviously proved his worth by heading the field in F3000 this year. He is currently leading the series on 46 points. Other names that may come into the equation for Arrows are Czech Tomáš Enge, who is Bourdais’ closest current rival, Felipe Massa, if he is indeed replaced by Frentzen, and Minardi’s Alex Yoong. No doubt there are a dozen further options, if you care to consider it for any length of time.

This site will bring you more as it emerges.