Esteban Tuero has secured his seat at Minardi for the 1999 season. The Minardi team announced yesterday that the Argentinean driver will continue with the team for next season, despite speculations made that the Argentinean driver will leave the team following the FIA's decision to drop the Argentine GP from next year's calendar. Giancarlo Minardi visited Buenos Aires during the 5 weeks gap prior to the Japanese Grand Prix, and the team has said he managed to secure sponsorship from several current sponsors, and some new ones. Therefore, the team announcement added, "we will see again several brands on the car, on the overalls and on the helmet of Esteban Tuero", affirming the driver's stay with the team. Tuero himself also spent the last few weeks at his hometown, though he was forced to stay home, recovering from a nasty flu.