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Minardi accuses McLaren, Williams of forcing them out
Monaco, May 31: Paul Stoddart, the owner of back-of-the-grid Minardi, has accused Mclaren chairman Ron Dennis and Williams owner Frank Williams of attempting to force his team out of Formula One.
Monaco, May 31: Paul Stoddart, the owner of back-of-the-grid Minardi, has accused Mclaren chairman Ron Dennis and Williams owner Frank Williams of attempting to force his team out of Formula One.
Stoddart had been promised in January that his cash-strapped team would receive part of a 'fighting fund' created to help privateer teams.
That 'fighting fund', which was also to help Sauber and Jordan, has not been created yet and Stoddart has criticised Dennis and Williams for the part they have played.
"I am disappointed with the likes of Ron Dennis and Frank Williams because they promised they would support smaller teams like Minardi and they have not delivered that pledge."
The fund was initially set up in January to help ease the financial strain on small teams with F1 supremo Bernie Eccelestone and F1's front running teams making money available.
The step was taken after both prost and arrows disappeared from the grid in the space of 12 months to leave the minimum 10 teams left to take part, while at the start of the season, both Minardi and Jordan were fighting for their future.
"It is not their (Mclaren and Williams) money we would be receiving, and instead it would be a pledge not to stand in the way of around eight million pounds we were due to collect when arrows became defunct," Stoddart added.
"That pledge was made in January and it has not been delivered. It makes our very existence extremely difficult."
Stoddart has faced and yearly struggled to keep his team on the grid since taking over the outfit on the eve of 2001 season. Minardi signed a sponsorship deal with Dutch backer trust last week to secure the finances for the rest of the 2003 season.
Bureau Report
Stoddart had been promised in January that his cash-strapped team would receive part of a 'fighting fund' created to help privateer teams.
That 'fighting fund', which was also to help Sauber and Jordan, has not been created yet and Stoddart has criticised Dennis and Williams for the part they have played.
"I am disappointed with the likes of Ron Dennis and Frank Williams because they promised they would support smaller teams like Minardi and they have not delivered that pledge."
The fund was initially set up in January to help ease the financial strain on small teams with F1 supremo Bernie Eccelestone and F1's front running teams making money available.
The step was taken after both prost and arrows disappeared from the grid in the space of 12 months to leave the minimum 10 teams left to take part, while at the start of the season, both Minardi and Jordan were fighting for their future.
"It is not their (Mclaren and Williams) money we would be receiving, and instead it would be a pledge not to stand in the way of around eight million pounds we were due to collect when arrows became defunct," Stoddart added.
"That pledge was made in January and it has not been delivered. It makes our very existence extremely difficult."
Stoddart has faced and yearly struggled to keep his team on the grid since taking over the outfit on the eve of 2001 season. Minardi signed a sponsorship deal with Dutch backer trust last week to secure the finances for the rest of the 2003 season.
Bureau Report