Verstappen

LONDON -- Struggling Minardi hopes to persuade Dutch Formula One driver Jos Verstappen to stay with them next season.

"I'm hoping that we can retain Jos for next year and we are still in negotiations," team owner Paul Stoddart said on Wednesday.

"I think he's got a good chance of staying with us and it comes down to what he wants to do," added the aviation entrepreneur.

"Jos has got a lot left in him before he hangs up his spurs. I think he could do a lot worse than driving for us."

The Dutchman, frustrated by the tail-end team's lack of pace last season, had set his sights on the second seat at Jaguar before they signed Austrian Christian Klien.

Jordan is the only team other than Minardi with remaining vacancies but they have options on German Nick Heidfeld and Briton Ralph Firman.

Verstappen, a close friend of Ferrari's six-time world champion Michael Schumacher since they were Benetton teammates in 1994, would bring Minardi substantial backing from his Dutch sponsors.

The team, the only ones who failed to score a point in 2003, hopes to announce at least one signing before the end of the year with Italian Gianmaria Bruni a frontrunner providing he can raise financial backing.

"We are still hopeful that we'll see a young talent signed up this side of Christmas," said Stoddart.

Briton Justin Wilson, a rookie with Minardi in 2003 before moving up to Jaguar for the last five races of the season, also figures high on Stoddart's wish list now that he is again looking for a drive.

"I've got a bit of a soft spot for Justin," he said. "If I were in the position where the drive was going to go to someone who didn't have a full budget, he'd be top of my list.

"I've got unfinished business with Justin and I've got a lot of faith in him."

Minardi is testing five drivers at the Vallelunga circuit near Rome this week, with Renault development driver Jose Maria Lopez of Argentina and Italian Fabrizio del Monte in action on Wednesday.

Finland's Heikki Kovalainen, another highly regarded young Renault prospect, will test later in the week with India's Narain Karthikeyan and 20-year-old Austrian Norbert Siedler.

"There's one or two I want to have a good look at," said Stoddart. "One in particular has a real future."

India's Karthikeyan hopeful of his F1 chances
Karthikeyan hopes his Formula One test with Minardi this week will take him a step closer to becoming India's first grand prix driver.

The 26-year-old, who tested in 2001 for Jaguar and Jordan, will drive Minardi's PS03 chassis on Friday at the Vallelunga circuit near Rome.

"This is clearly a great opportunity for me," he said in a statement released by Minardi.

"It will be great publicity for India and for Indian motor sport," added Karthikeyan, who was fourth in the 2003 World Series.

Stoddart was hopeful the driver would impress.

"Narain is undoubtedly the most talented driver from India currently on the international motor racing scene, showing tremendous commitment every time he is behind the wheel. We believe he has great potential."

The statement said that if the session went well, there was a strong possibility Karthikeyan could be asked to join the team in 2004.

One of Karthikeyan's sponsors, however, said his chances would also depend a lot on his ability to raise money from sponsors for the cash-strapped team.