Verstappen In Demand.

Jos Verstappen's fortunes appear to have taken something of an upturn, with at least two teams seeking his services for next season.


The Dutchman failed to land a seat for 1999, but impressed on several testing appearances for the still-born Honda works effort HRD. Now, he appears to have a choice of two seats for 2000, albeit at the wrong end of the Formula One grid.


Verstappen has been linked with a return to former employer Arrows since the Malaysian GP, when the Leafield outfit signed a technical sponsorship with Dutch IT company Baan. Along with compatriot Tom Coronel, he is rumoured to be in contention to replace the lacklustre Tora Takagi next year, and line-up alongside Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa who is understood to be close to a renewed deal. Arrows boss Tom Walkinshaw has admitted that Verstappen is on his short-list, while Coronel remains an outside bet for a testing place with the team.


It still appears, however, that Verstappen could wind up at another team, thought to be Minardi. Lodewijk Varossieau, a member of the Dutchman's management team, has confirmed that talks are being held with an unamed outfit regarding a drive for 2000 and, with Minardi being the only other team other than Arrows to have a vacancy, this remains the most likely option.


Arrows, meanwhile, has revealed that it will not stop development of its troublesome self-badged engine, despite signing a deal to use Supertec power in 2000. Although admitting that the team is not well enough funded to continue to build its own units, Walkinshaw confirmed that the research and development programme would continue next season.