LONDON, 28 January 2004 — Dutch driver Jos Verstappen’s hopes of staying in Formula One this season appeared to be over yesterday after talks with Jordan broke down.
The announcement in a statement on his website did not say what Verstappen, 31, planned to do but the decision could spell the end of a decade-long Formula One career that did not live up to its early promise. “After lengthy study of all related contracts, the sponsors and management of Jos Verstappen decided this morning to break off the ongoing talks with Jordan,” said the statement.
“The points of the contract presented by Jordan gave insufficient confidence in a successful cooperation in the coming season,” it added.
Verstappen added: “We all did our utmost to get an agreement. But at the moment it is no use to continue.”
Jordan are the only team left in Formula One with driver vacancies for the season, which starts in Australia on March 7, and they had been talking to Verstappen for several months. A spokeswoman for the team, who had already ignored an ultimatum from Verstappen’s management for a decision on his contract by last Friday, said the driver had not visited their factory since Jan. 12.
