Minardi driver, Esteban Tuero, will not participate in the Italian team's test drives until early January, reported the team's spokesperson. The young Argentinean has been suffering pain since his accident at the Japanese Grand Prix on November 1st, and was ordered by his doctors to rest for two months, pending further medical examinations. Tuero is currently receiving treatment from the medical staff at the Hospital Britanico de Buenos Aires. Apparently, he damaged three of his spinal vertebras and is not allowed any physical stess untill at least January.

Minardi will begin testing next week, without Tuero on board. Instead, Laurent Redon, Donny Crevels and Marc Gené will be testing for the Italian team.