EXCLUSIVE: Paul Stoddart to meet with Malaysian Prime Minister!

[LucaBadoer]

Report from www.F1-Live.com


According to reports coming out of Malaysia, European Minardi boss, Paul Stoddart together with the team's sporting director, Rupert Manwaring will be participating in a meeting with Malaysia's Sports Minister sometime in the next week to discuss a possible deal between the country and Minardi Formula One. It was also said that the Minardi team principle might even have a meeting scheduled with the Prime Minister of Malaysia who has taken a keen interest in Alex Yoong's participation in Formula One.

Recent Formula One activity in the home of the Malaysian Grand Prix has linked Formula Nippon driver, Alex Yoong with a possible future drive for the small outfit and the country's Sporting Minister, Dato' Hishammuddin is known to be in full support of helping the young driver achieve his long term goals of becoming a Formula One driver. Minardi have had their eye on Alex's progress for some time now and Manwaring stated several weeks ago that he believes Alex is ready for the giant step up into the pinnacle of Motorsports.

While some may be disbelieving of the situation, Malaysian Motorsports manager Mr. Nanthan confirmed to us exclusively yesterday that they have already received and forwarded Alex's application for a super license to the sports governing body and they expect a response from the FIA sometime in the next week. One of the requirements necessary to obtain the highly sought after license is that the driver must have the offer of a current contract with a Formula One team as either a test or full time driver.

There has been speculation for some weeks now that Tarso Marques' days are numbered with the team, something Minardi have denied repeatedly, however while the team have confirmed Fernando Alonso for next season, Paul Stoddart did admit that Tarso is on a race to race contract and can be replaced at any given time.

"Tarso is on a race-by-race deal," he said recently. "And if anybody comes along who we believe will be an incredible asset to the team, then we have the right to change him."

However at this stage, while the team has confirmed to us that Stoddart is in Malaysia for a meeting with the Minister, the only information they were willing to disclose was that he is there to discuss potential sponsorship deals, but there was no official confirmation or denial regarding Alex Yoong's future with the outfit.

[mac]

Yeah - I saw that. Sad isn't it.

[Maxmil]

A lamentable development. All we need now is for governments to begin to sponsor F 1 teams and to secure driving seats for their citizens in the process. (Actually, is Yooung a Malaysian? I just assumed so,) Can you imagine Iran and Iraq dicing for the lead on the last laps of the British GP? With Saddam IV versus the Young Ayatollah for the WDC? Maybe Bernie will ban them and justify his own position as Absolute Ruler and Temporal Lord of Internal Combustion. Ah me, what a way to start off the morning.

[Gt_R]

Soon...all global political disputes would be settled on the F1 track~ One in US colours...one in Germany...one in China...

[Valve Bounce]

G'day Mite,
The rine in Spine falls minely in the plines.
Ya got that Paul? Mahatir will loveya for it, mite!!

[Minardi fan]

I don't see what all the fuss is about - Marques needs replacing asap as he is making the team look like a joke. Also, does no-one remember that Malaysia sponsored Sauber???

[angst]

What's all the fuss about?!!

Minardi fan, what do you mean?

What has Mr Yoong ever done in his career? He will be an absolute embarassment to the Minardi name and to F1 in general. Surely they can't be serious?

Please tell me it can't happen..........

....someone..

[Minardi fan]

I don't know a thing about Yoong - I'm just going on what other people say. I believe Morbidelli should be driving the other Minardi.

[Valve Bounce]

Originally posted by Minardi fan
I don't know a thing about Yoong....

You've been watching Fawlty Towers too, havn't you? If he had any talent, you would have heard something. You think Marques is bad? He is actually much better than his resuls would suggest, as he was always given the worser of the two Minardis (if that is possible for a concept) as anything that was fixed, it was probably Alonso's.
What we are concerned about is the involvement of a Government into buying a seat for an inept driver into F1. However, I suspect the deal involves a rather complicated engine deal, most probably an improved (through additional funding) ASIATECH for Minardi. So, it is evident that this is where Paul Stoddat is going to get his engine from. As a Minardi fan myself, I don't know whether to cheer, or whatever.

[Minardi fan]

Oh dear... seems those lovely Minardi daggers are double-edged then...

[Wrex]

Can't anyone see the real problem here????????

Why is a driver we have never heard of (most of us anyway) entering formula one, the pinnicle of motorsport, because of the depth of his pockets when there are so many more talented and more experienced drivers out there?

This is ridiculous.

[Valve Bounce]

Originally posted by Wrex
Can't anyone see the real problem here????????

Why is a driver we have never heard of (most of us anyway) entering formula one, the pinnicle of motorsport, because of the depth of his pockets when there are so many more talented and more experienced drivers out there?

This is ridiculous.

WREX, if the FIA gives the guy a licence, teh implication is even worse.

MF, you know that I want to see Minardi get a decent engine, but somehow, I don't think I want it this badly.

[EERO]

Originally posted by Minardi fan
Also, does no-one remember that Malaysia sponsored Sauber???

And during their first season, Stewart?

[Mekola]

Originally posted by Maxmil
A lamentable development. All we need now is for governments to begin to sponsor F 1 teams and to secure driving seats for their citizens in the process. (Actually, is Yooung a Malaysian? I just assumed so,) Can you imagine Iran and Iraq dicing for the lead on the last laps of the British GP? With Saddam IV versus the Young Ayatollah for the WDC? Maybe Bernie will ban them and justify his own position as Absolute Ruler and Temporal Lord of Internal Combustion. Ah me, what a way to start off the morning.

Wait a moment. Malaysia goverment is sponsoring F1 since mid-90s. They don't sponsorize only Sauber, they also sponsored Stewart GP during 1997-98. About Yoong, Malaysia goverment sponsored him since his F3 days during 1998. Malaysia is a country with no much development in motorsport, so he decided sponsoring Yoong to promote the motorsport in and for his country.
Actually Malaysia wasn't the only goverment what sponsored in F1 to promote his drivers. Also Argentinian goverment sponsorized national teams and drivers in F1 on the late 40s and in the beginning of the 70s, starting with the support to ACA national team of Maseratis (later Ferraris) of Juan Manuel Fangio and Benedicto Campos during 1949, and finishing with the support to Carlos Reutemann in his beginning years in Europe (1970-72). Other countries don't need sponsorize his drivers because there are enterprises what decided sponsor local drivers in the name of this nation. Examples are YPF for Argentina (before the bought of Repsol), Petrobras for Brazil, Ancap for Uruguay, and Lukoil for Russia.

[Valve Bounce]

Let me put it this way Mekola: It is one thing for any Government to sponsor a team or even a good driver like Reuteman or Fangio in F1, it's another thing for a government to put pressure on a F1 team to obtain a place for an inept driver. From your exhuberance, may I assume that you are from Malaysia? For your information, I can only wish that an Asian driver would make it big time in F1. But if the driver is inept, he can end up killing someone in a race, and maybe even himself. F1 is not for the inept drivers - it is for the most capable drivers in the world. I personally am not worried about the politics of this, just the pressure of money to put any driver into an F1 car before/unless he is capable of the task.