The Spyker grand prix...

The Spyker grand prix team will field a new-look driver line-up in Germany this weekend after dropping Christijan Albers because of sponsor problems. While the Dutch driver has been outperformed by German rookie team-mate Adrian Sutil for most of this year – and was forced out of the French GP after a bizarre fuel hose mix-up – Spyker boss Colin Kolles said axing him was a difficult decision. “We are faced with no other option,” he claimed. “The team’s ambitious programme has been seriously compromised by the non-payment by one of his sponsors.”

Spyker – which hasn’t scored a point this season – had yet to confirm a replacement when we went to press, although ex-Red Bull racer and current Honda reserve Christian Klien is in pole position after testing for the outfit last week at Spa in Belgium. Well funded Indian ace Narain Karthikeyan – currently one of Williams’ testers – is another possibility, but Markus Winkelhock is second favourite. The German is already one of Spyker’s regular test drivers, and is targeting a one-off drive in his home GP. “We could do Markus a favour,” admitted Kolles.