Minardi boss Paul Stoddart on Wednesday dismissed as "nonsense" reports that Malaysian driver Alex Yoong had been dropped from the team for 2003.

Some reports had quoted Stoddart as saying that Yoong would never drive for the struggling team again, but the team boss insisted on Wednesday that no decision on the driver line-up for next season had yet been taken.

"This is absolute nonsense. I have not said any such thing," news agency AFP reported Stoddart as saying in Autosport magazine.

"My position has been completely consistent whenever I have been asked questions on this subject - no decision has been made on Minardi's driver line up for 2003.

"All the names about which there is speculation are worthy of consideration and might be in with a chance, but we're not under any pressure to make a decision at this stage."

Yoong, who has struggled in his first full season, was rested from the team at last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix and will also sit out the Belgian Grand Prix on September 1st.

He was replaced by British rookie Anthony Davidson, but Minardi are adamant that Yoong will return to the wheel for the final three races of the season in Italy, the United States and Japan.