Jos Verstappen has said that he "quite liked" the 1998 specification Tyrrell-Ford that he tested last week. The Dutch driver used a more developed version of the narrow car and grooved tyres that Mika Salo tested last month.

Jos said that the car was hardly any different in terms of handling, just slower to drive.

That said, Verstappen only ran in the wet, not the dry conditions that have been said to bring the worst out in the "new" car.

The latest news on the driver front suggests that Damon Hill has lost his chance at the Sauber seat by refusing to commit himself.

The World Champion is also alleged to have said that he had an offer from McLaren and that Ron Dennis had told him not to join another team without telling him first.

Many observers feel that Sauber was Damon's best chance as there is stiff (and cheaper) competition at McLaren, Jordan, and Prost teams.

Mika Salo is now being linked with the Jordan seat vacated by Giancarlo Fisichella.

Alex Wurz is tipped to replace Gianni Morbidelli at Sauber from the Belgian Grand Prix onwards. The Austrian will test at Silverstone with the team next week.

Esteban Tuero will get his first run in the Minardi-Hart at the end of this season. Tuero is the designated Minardi test driver and races in Formula Nippon.