Team: Minardi
Nationality: Dutch
| |  |
| | Verstappen |
|
STATS
|
Year
|
Rank
|
Wins
|
Poles
|
Podium
|
Best finish
|
|
2002
|
Did not race
|
|
Career
|
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
3rd, twice
|
2002 Recap
The Good: His nickname is Jos the Boss, and he is reputed to have the largest fan club of any F1 driver. His supporters have stuck with him
through thick and thin. Verstappen burst onto the F1 scene in 1994 when, with a fantastic background in go-karts but little in racing cars, he was called in to replace the injured J.J. Lehto at Benetton.
Season Highlight: None in 2002, but back in 1994, as Michael Schumacher's teammate at Benetton, he scored two third places.
The Bad: Verstappen is a racer, and he wasn't racing in 2002 after being dumped by Arrows. Going back to the beginning, after making his F1 debut with Benetton in 1994 he drove for a succession of mediocre teams with limited success.
Season Lowlight: Hearing less than a month before the first race of the 2002 season that the Arrows team had "released" him from his contract.
Perhaps the most memorable lowlight/highlight of his career was back in '94 when he and his Benetton were engulfed in a spectacular and terrifying fire during a pit stop in Germany. He escaped with minor burns.
|  |
| After sitting out during the 2002 season, Jos Verstappen is back on the F1 grid with Minardi. |
Key Stat: Has not raced in F1 since October 2001.
2003 Outlook
What needs to be done: Verstappen needs to get the rust out. He has not raced in F1 since the end of the 2001 season. He has kept in shape by racing go-karts and riding bicycles. He is an experienced driver, and he will need to help his rookie teammate Justin Wilson find his way around F1.
Prediction: Verstappen will deliver his usual workmanlike and solid performance. He will be limited by the potential of the Minardi Ford team, which is limited by its lack of financial backing.
Your Take
Share your thoughts on Verstappen's prospects for the 2003 and beyond.
Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
