Jos Verstappen drove in 1997 for Ken Tyrrell’s team in the Formula One. At this point Tyrrell was only a shadow of their successful past. Struggling financially the team was unable to sign contracts for decent engines. The team was forced to hire pay drivers to pay the bills. Eventually the team would be sold at the end of 1997 to BAT (British American Tobacco) who turned it into BAR. However, Jos signing with Tyrrell for 1997 was not because he had the money, the reason is a contract with Sauber that was torn apart in favour of the Ferrari engines.
Ferrari ruined Verstappen’s chance at Sauber for 1997. They were happily to supply the team with their previous engines, with the condition that an Italian driver would join Johnny Herbert at the team. Larini took the second seat. Ironically, Larini would leave Sauber after the fifth race of the season. He was not happy with the team’s ambitions. Larini was eventually replaced by Gianni Morbidelli and Norberto Fontana as stand in.
It seems Verstappen’s management was already in the summer of 1996 in contact with Sauber. At that time, Jos was one of the Arrows drivers, though the team was struggling as well. Jos finished only four races and managed to score one point for the team. It seems the future for Jos was secured with Sauber as his new team. All that was needed to happen was to sign the contract, and dry the ink.
What was in the contract is not known, the only info available it would be a contract for one season. With the option for another year with the Swiss team. However, the contract was never signed. Sauber stricked a deal with Ferrari the 29th of November 1996 to use their 1996 engines and have them rebatched as Petronas. It seems that the deal would be canned and eventually cancelled first. Therefore, Jos was forced to look for another team to drive for. Contact was made with Lola and Stewart. However, eventually Jos signed the 28th of November that year a deal for 1997 with Tyrrell.
©Morio
