Minardi lodges a complaint with the FIA regarding Bridgestone
02-02-2003, 06:06 PM
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Minardi lodges a complaint with the FIA regarding Bridgestone
The Minardi team was thrilled to have Jos Verstappen take to the track, but it is undeniable that they would have preferred his return to be under different circumstances. As you already know, Minardi is without a tyre supplier contract: its contract with Michelin has expired, and they are waiting for Bridgestone to lower their asking price.
Paul Stoddart: “It is with regret that Minardi must face the fact that Bridgestone does not want to provide us with tyres. We are sadly forced to lodge a complaint to the FIA, as we believe Bridgestone is under obligation to provide us with tyres if we look at the 2003 rules. After more than three months trying to come to an agreement, I can safely state that we were never able to get in touch with Hiroshi Yasukawa, director at Bridgestone Motorsport. I wasn't able to talk to him, let alone meet with him. I can't believe a corporation such as Bridgestone deals in this fashion with some of their clients. Because of this lack of communication, Minardi wasted two testing days, which we would have liked to avoid knowing the current circumstances.”
Paul Stoddart: “It is with regret that Minardi must face the fact that Bridgestone does not want to provide us with tyres. We are sadly forced to lodge a complaint to the FIA, as we believe Bridgestone is under obligation to provide us with tyres if we look at the 2003 rules. After more than three months trying to come to an agreement, I can safely state that we were never able to get in touch with Hiroshi Yasukawa, director at Bridgestone Motorsport. I wasn't able to talk to him, let alone meet with him. I can't believe a corporation such as Bridgestone deals in this fashion with some of their clients. Because of this lack of communication, Minardi wasted two testing days, which we would have liked to avoid knowing the current circumstances.”
02-02-2003, 06:08 PM
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The tussle between Minardi and Bridgestone is still going on, and at as of the time of this writing, no agreement has been reached. It is in a PS01 shod with Avon tyres that Jos Verstappen took to the Valencia race track today. The object of the dispute is money, as is often the case in F1. Bridgestone wants $2.5 million from Minardi, which is way too much according to Paul Stoddart.
“We contacted Bridgestone last October 17th” - Paul Stoddart told Gazzetta dello Sport - “and we've been waiting for an answer ever since.”
The Minardi team boss is actually waiting for a positive response to his request - negative ones, he's got them already! The Concorde Agreements stipulate that tyre manufacturers are under the obligation of providing teams with tyres free of charge during Grand- Prix week-ends. As far as testing sessions go... Bridgestone is fully entitled to charge whatever it wants. Paul Stoddart argues that $2.5 million a season is a bit high.
“We contacted Bridgestone last October 17th” - Paul Stoddart told Gazzetta dello Sport - “and we've been waiting for an answer ever since.”
The Minardi team boss is actually waiting for a positive response to his request - negative ones, he's got them already! The Concorde Agreements stipulate that tyre manufacturers are under the obligation of providing teams with tyres free of charge during Grand- Prix week-ends. As far as testing sessions go... Bridgestone is fully entitled to charge whatever it wants. Paul Stoddart argues that $2.5 million a season is a bit high.
