Parente the driver on pole for Campos seat

[John S]

Now just how do you get sponsored by the Portugese government, is it part of some youth unemployment scheme?

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A Portuguese media source insists his heavily-backed countryman Alvaro Parente is "on the verge" of becoming Bruno Senna's 2010 race teammate at Campos.

The 25-year-old GP2 driver, who made his F1 test debut with Renault last year after winning the World Series by Renault, is now sponsored not only by private Portuguese companies but also the government, the source said.

"Some of the companies have interests in Spain so it would be very positive for Alvaro's sponsors to be with a Spanish team," said the journalist Jorge Girao.

The sportmotores.com writer also said Vitaly Petrov and Pastor Maldonado are in the running for the seat but that Campos "is tired of waiting for (their) promised money".

If he makes it Alvaro will join a a small club of just 3 previous Portugese drivers to start a GP, the others were  "Nicha" Cabral who drove in the late 50's & early 60's, Pedro Lamy 93 to 96, and Tiago Monteiro 05/06.

There is one other notable driver from Portugal, Pedro Chaves 1991, he drove for Coloni but failed to pre-qualify for all of the 13 races he was entered in that year and so never started a single one.

[Jericoke]

Now just how do you get sponsored by the Portugese government, is it part of some youth unemployment scheme?

Various levels of Canadian governments are shelling out millions to have a Canadian Grand Prix, and we're not unique in that aspect.  Michael Schumacher made F1 popular in Germany, likewise Alonso stoked enough interest in Spain to add a grand prix in Valencia.  If  the Portugese want a chance to hand money over to Bernie, this is step one.

[Alianora La Canta]

How could OneStopStrategy.com forget about Tiago Monteiro?!? I'd say getting on the podium in Indy 2005 was pretty notable, if only because of the circumstances surrounding the event...