14/09/2005
NEWS STORY
 |
Contrary to reports elsewhere, following Red Bull's purchase of the Minardi team, there are no plans to relocate the team's Faenza workforce or to close the factory.
Talking to Pitpass, Paul Stoddart said that the future of Minardi's workforce and its factory at Faenza was the key to his talks with Red Bull, and since the sale was completed at the weekend the relevant conditions have been reconfirmed with the Austrian company, at the highest level.
Reports that the factory in Faenza could be closed within the next couple of years with the two Red Bull teams operating out of the same factory in England are unfounded, he told Pitpass, and no thought has been given to such a plan, and nor is it likely to, for at least 2-3 years.
Stoddart is concerned that talk of closing the Faenza operation would not only cause employees stress, but would also create the appearance that he was aware of the plan, whereas the Australian went to great pains to keep the facility going, indeed, he could have relocated the team to the UK after purchasing it in 2001.
Stoddart has already admitted to being greatly saddened at selling the team, and during the press conference at Spa came close to tears on a number of occasions. The decision to sell the team to Red Bull was in order that someone could take it forward… there were no champagne corks popping in the Minardi garage or motorhome on Saturday.