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Jos Verstappen's much-anticipated return to the Formula 1 grid with Minardi has finally been confirmed.

Verstappen, who made the announcement at a press conference in Holland this evening, will partner Brit Justin Wilson at the Cosworth-powered team.

The news comes as no surprise as Verstappen’s only serious rival for the drive, fellow Dutchman Christijan Albers, ruled himself out of the running earlier this week.

Verstappen said: "I am very pleased to be back in Formula 1 and to have signed to drive for Minardi in 2003. Up and down the pit lane, it has always been known that Minardi builds good cars and is a strong little team that has only been prevented from achieving its full potential over the years by a lack of sponsorship.

"I am really impressed with Paul Stoddart’s plans for the team and by this year’s technical package, which looks strong to me. I have been around Formula 1 long enough, however, to know better than to make extravagant claims about a team’s competitiveness before a new season begins.

"All I can say is that I like what I see at Minardi and I am going to do my best for the team in 2003. I’m really looking forward to it."

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart is convinced that Verstappen and Wilson will make a potent partnership .

He said: "This is extremely good news. The combination of Jos Verstappen and Justin Wilson will, I believe, give Minardi the strongest driver line-up in its history.

"The two of them will provide just the right blend of youth and experience, and combined with an effective chassis and Cosworth Racing’s powerful CR3 engine, we will definitely have a much stronger package than in 2002.

"Until we get to the first grand prix, in Melbourne, it’s impossible to know to what degree the other teams will have improved over the winter and how we’ll compare with them. Even so, I’d like to think that Minardi could be the ‘breakthrough team’ of 2003."

Verstappen has been out of Formula 1 since losing his Arrows drive to Heinz-Harald Frentzen on the eve of last season. The 30-year-old has driven for Benetton, Simtek, Tyrrell, Stewart and Arrows (twice) over the course of a nomadic seven-year F1 career.

The Dutchman’s announcement means that only one 2003 race drive remains up for grabs – the seat alongside Giancarlo Fisichella at Jordan.

bron: www.itv-f1.com