Jos: "I want to help the team make progress"

Published on 14 May 2003 by Huub Rothengatter

Jos Verstappen will leave for Austria tomorrow to prepare for his 6th Grand Prix at the A1 Ring in Spielberg. He is leaving early tomorrow morning and did not have a lot of time to speak to us, but we still managed to ask some questions:

What do you do inbetween races, Minardi doesn't do any testing. Are in contact with the team?
"Yes, mainly with Greg Wheeler. We call each other about 3 or 4 times a week. We always find some details to talk about. If there is not much to say then our phone call will be short."

The story is well known by now. Minardi will not be able to close the 1,5 second gap for a while. The team needs to work on the aerodynamics, but how important are the tyres?
"New tyres are very important. It won't enable me to close the gap - the aerodynamics are more importand - but the tyres do help. This season the only time I have used the new Bridgestone was in Imola. You should have seen the tyres in Barcelona, there wasn't much left of them."

The A1 ring, finishing the race will be very important. Is this circuit one of those where Minardi might have a chance?
"The F1 circuits don't differ that much, we won't be able to close the 1,5 second gap. The A1 Ring is especially hard on the brakes and not a lot of grip due to little use of the track. A combination of retirements and rain would be advantageous for us."

Does this mean there is only the competition between you and Justin or is this not important for you?
"No, I'm not interested in that. He might be, but you will ask him that yourself. It is more important for me to help the team improve, assist in the development of the car. That is why I see a positive future for us. I'd rather put all my time and effort in that than in the so called competition between Justin and myself."