Stoddart reveals Minardi plans
Paul Stoddart has confirmed Red Bull are considering using Minardi as a junior team.
Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing’s sporting director, refused to confirm the soft drinks giant are in talks to buy Stoddart’s team and run four cars next season.
But Minardi team principal Stoddart did reveal talks had taken place, claiming Red Bull have discussed two options – buying the team or buying race seats for their young drivers.
Red Bull’s young driver programme has fostered several promising talents, notably Scott Speed and Vitantonio Liuzzi, but with David Coulthard already installed as number one with Horner’s team next season, they have little room to manoeuvre.
Stoddart confirmed they have looked into using Minardi as a junior team to give them space to promote young talent to Formula One.
The Australian said: “There is an interest from Red Bull but it may still turn out to be an interest in [placing] drivers as opposed to an interest in the team, but I don’t know.
“I had a positive talk with Red Bull last weekend that centred as much around drivers as it did around the team. They have had a chance to look at things throughout the week and where they are now is really for them to say.
“Nobody has come back to me and said: ’Paul, I want to buy two driver seats next year’ or ’I want to buy the team.’”
However, Horner is adamant the focus of Red Bull’s energy in Formula One will remain on his team, insisting nothing would be done to compromise their chances of success.
Horner is convinced Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz will do nothing to harm his squad, who have made impressive progress since emerging from the ashes of failing Jaguar over the winter.
“Nothing would be done to dilute the objectives, and those objectives here are very clear,” Horner told PA Sport. “We want to move forward and we really want to compete at the front.
“Red Bull have a habit of breaking the mould and I think they have made a positive impact in Formula One this year.
“What we have achieved has exceeded people’s expectations on and off track, it has been a refreshing input as well, Formula One was becoming a little bit staid.
“We are very pleased with what we have been able to achieve but not satisfied. There are targets beyond what we have done this year.”
