Albers makes a statement

Yesterday, the Spyker F1 Ltd. announced that, due to commercial difficulties, Christijan Albers will no longer race for the Etihad Aldar Spyker Formula One Team. Today the Dutchman makes a statement on the matter.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Sports Friends,

In a short conversation with the team leadership of Spyker Formula I last Sunday I learned that I will no longer be active as a racedriver for the Spyker team during the 2007 season. As you know this was made public this morning.

First, I would like to say that, as an athlete, I am extremely disappointed; it goes without saying that there is nothing I would rather do than finish the season racing and continue my Formula I career.

This development is not just a disappointment to myself, but just as much to the team, it’s staff and technicians with whom I have worked together so intensively over the past two seasons.

It is also disappointing to the team and personal sponsors who have always supported me and who have made and continue to make so many things possible for me. Subsequently, I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their clear expressions of support over the past couple of days. In this regard I would also like to thank my loyal group of fans.

Right now I would like to address what I believe is the reason for this premature termination. Spyker has stated that the reason for the termination is the fact that one of my personal sponsors has not met its financial obligations to the team. The problems with this particular sponsor already occurred in December 2006 and January this year. However, the contract with this sponsor was agreed between the sponsor and the team directly without my intervention.

My former manager Lodewijk Varossieau of GR8 Industries was and is responsible for our sponsor contracts. He remains the sponsor finder for CA BV.
Before as well as during the season several sponsors have been introduced to the Spyker F1 team based on my name and relation with the team.

Until now it is unclear to me and to CA BV what the precise payment deficit is, even though we have asked for clarity in this matter.

Regardless of the problems with the herefore mentioned sponsor the team direction had already given me verbal and written guarantees that I would finish the season in January this year.

Personally I have tried all past season to concentrate on racing itself as much as I could. On the sports side this resulted in progress. I have tried to leave the business aspects to my advisors as much as possible.

Therefore the team’s decision to terminate the cooperation with me came as an unpleasant surprise to me. It is very unfair and I very much regret that this unexpected decision will prohibit me from driving in the new Spyker B car, especially since I have put much effort and time into its development with the help of the team staff and technicians.

I also regret that we have not been able to talk with the Spyker F1 Team until now concerning the termination. I hope and expect that Spyker will explain all of this in a meeting will take place in the near future.

Finally, I can promise everybody, in particular my sponsors and my fans, that I will do everything within my power to return to the ultimate stage as soon as possible.

Christijan Albers."