Minardi director passes away

Minardi sporting director John Walton has died after a heart attack earlier this week.

Walton, partner of ITV presenter Louise Goodman, passed away last night in St Thomas’ Hospital in London.

Walton suffered a heart attack in the early hours of Monday morning and died at the age of 46 with his family at his bedside.

Minardi are not expected to practice in this morning’s first session as a mark of respect for Walton, who worked with the likes of Benetton, Lotus and Jordan during a 20-year career in Formula One.