Arrows no longer Trust worthy for 2002.

Dutch computer peripherals producer Trust has announced that it has severed all ties with the Orange Arrows team after the announcement that Heinz Harald Frentzen will partner Enrique Bernoldi in 2002 instead of Dutchman Jos Verstappen.

Trust signed a sponsorship contract with Verstappen and Orange Arrows in September last year. Verstappen had, at that stage, already signed to drive for Arrows in 2002, in what would have been his third consecutive, and forth in total, year for the team.

Verstappen learnt he would not be driving for the Leafield concern through his manager, who read the news on the Orange Arrows website. According to their website, Trust took the news as a "slap in the face".

Much speculation abounds of where Jos might go next. He had already turned down a test role at Ferrari due to his belief that Arrows would honour the 2002 contract. Mika Salo, teammate to Verstappen in 1997 at Tyrrell, is known to work well with the Dutchman and to be keen for Toyota to secure a role for Verstappen.

There's even speculation that Jos could be swapping orange for yellow if Sato's fitness and pace prove to be below par. Verstappen is known to be well regarded by Honda as he was the test driver for the developmental Honda F1 car in 1999. He also tested for Jordan in 1999 whilst Damon Hill went through his mid-season crisis.

Verstappen is no stranger to being drafted in mid-season; in mid 1999 he replaced a faltering Jan Magnusson to partner Rubens Barrichello at Stewart. He can also take heart from the subsequent seat finding success of his former teammate Pedro de la Rosa who lost his place at Arrows almost exactly a year ago.

A lack of Verstappen is sure to mean there'll be less overtaking in F1 for 2002. In the 2001 season Jos the Boss completed 96 successful overtaking moves, more than three times the amount of his replacement, Heinz Harald Frentzen.

Trust have said they will continue to support Verstappen, as long as he can continue to race.