So Long, Salo?
Mika Salo could be shown the door at Arrows, despite the team taking up its option on the Finn in recent weeks.
Salo's demise would be brought about by the team's increasingly dire financial straits, with sponsors Zepter and Danka rumoured to be parting company with team boss Tom Walkinshaw. With the well-funded Pedro Diniz also leaving the team to drive for Sauber in 1999, Arrows may have to take on two paying drivers to raise a sufficient budget for next season.
Mika Salo could be shown the door at Arrows, despite the team taking up its option on the Finn in recent weeks.
Salo's demise would be brought about by the team's increasingly dire financial straits, with sponsors Zepter and Danka rumoured to be parting company with team boss Tom Walkinshaw. With the well-funded Pedro Diniz also leaving the team to drive for Sauber in 1999, Arrows may have to take on two paying drivers to raise a sufficient budget for next season.
Current favourites for the vacant seats are Tyrrell refugees Tora Takagi and Ricardo Rosset, and 1997 Formula Nippon champion Pedro de la Rosa. Takagi is thought likely to join the team whether or not it dispenses with Salo, while both Rosset and de la Rosa have access to substantial sponsorship budgets.
Salo, meanwhile, has taken the precaution of signing a testing contract with the Honda works effort, as it gears up to enter F1 in 2000. Intriguingly, Takagi was slated as probably filling the role, but could provide the Finn with an opening by replacing him at Arrows.
