Tarso Marques, Fernando Alonso’s first team-mate in F1, has been arrested in Brazil for “illegal possession of a luxury car.”
The 49-year-old was driving a Lamborghini Gallardo in Sao Paulo without licence plates, with police then discovering during routine checks that there was “accumulated debt of 1.3 million Brazilian Reals,” on the vehicle, according to a report in The Washington Post.
Marques only enjoyed a single season in F1, in 2001 for Minardi, serving as the first team-mate to Alonso.
During their respective rookie seasons, Marques actually finished ahead of Alonso in the standings on countback with neither scoring points.
He took a best finish of ninth in Brazil and Canada, compared to Alonso’s best of 10th in Germany.
After losing the seat for 2002, he stayed on as a reserve and test driver, before eventually moving to Brazilian stock car racing, last competing in 2018.