Formula 1 News

Christijan Albers dropped after British GP? 

Dutch driver could be dropped by Spyker even before the end of the 2007 season. Formerly a favourite of the Dutch outfit, the experienced 28-year-old pay driver has struggled to keep up with his rookie teammate Adrian Sutil in 2007 and is now steadily losing the support of his team allies. Albers recently split with his manager Lodewijk Varossieau, whose company GR8 Industries is contracted to run PR and find sponsors for Spyker.

The CEO of Spyker’s parent company Michiel Mol publicly questioned Albers’ position in the team for 2008 following the French GP, where he drew the ire of Spyker’s technical boss Mike Gascoyne for inexplicably driving out of the pitlane with a fuel hose still attached to his car. Germany’s Sport Bild now reports that even father-in-law Roel Kooijman – a Spyker financier – is losing patience with Albers, as is team boss Colin Kolles, who is quoted as frustratingly observing that “we are a Dutch team” when he was asked about Albers’ fate.

Spyker’s reserve driver Markus Winkelhock, meanwhile, looks the most likely to replace Albers, perhaps at the upcoming European grand prix. BMW-Sauber’s Robert Kubica, a former rival and friend, is quoted as saying: “If a team boss needs a driver, and he asks me, I will suggest Markus.”

26-year-old German Winkelhock, however, said: “I do not want to take part in any speculation, however it is my job to be ready to race.”

Source: f1live