The uncertainty in the wake of Heinz Harald Frentzen’s axing from Jordan three weeks ago is finally over. Alain Prost has released Jean Alesi to drive for Jordan starting with the Hungarian Grand Prix, while Frentzen will replace the Frenchman at Prost.
Jean Alesi will make his long-expected switch to Jordan in time for the Hungarian Grand Prix, Eddie Jordan said on Wednesday.
The announcement by the Jordan owner ended weeks of uncertainty after Heinz Harald Frentzen’s shock dismissal from the team, while a subsequent statement by Alain Prost cleared up speculation about Frentzen’s immediate future.
Prost, considering Alesi’s large contribution to the team’s progress in the last two years and their long relationship, decided to release his driver and wished him success within his new team. The four-time world champion then announced that Frentzen would drive alongside Luciano Burti for the remainder of the 2001 season.
Jordan had never made a secret of wanting to secure Alesi’s services since Frentzen was sacked. However, the Irishman did not want to engage in a legal wrangle with Prost in order to sign Alesi.
Prost at first refused to release his star driver, but Alesi had openly said that he was unhappy within the Prost team, especially due to contractual disputes and a lack of development on the AP04.
When Alesi was released from his contract, Jordan jumped at the chance to sign the Frenchman in time for the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 19.
“Jean Alesi’s coming back to Jordan after 12 years and we’re very excited. We need to put a number of parts together to start to win again and we need an experienced person to help us put them together,” Jordan told BBC’s Radio 5.
“It is essential to preserve our team’s serenity in this moment when we are building up Prost’s Grand Prix future and consolidating our strategy for the upcoming years. This is why I chose to release Jean,” Prost said on Wednesday.
“I am delighted to welcome Heinz Harald Frentzen in our team. His achievements in the last few years place him among the best drivers, and his large experience within top Formula One teams will be a strong asset for us for the remainder of the 2001 season. His arrival allows us to prepare the team’s future with confidence,” said Prost.
“It’s fantastic news, which I wouldn’t have dared to hope for even two months ago. Things really didn’t go the way I’d expected at Prost. On the Monday after the British Grand Prix I received a letter from Alain’s solicitor, which really upset me. After that, all I wanted was to leave,” Alesi was quoted as saying on his website.
“I never for a moment thought I’d find another seat so quickly. From Budapest, I’ll have a car that is capable of being on the podium. That’s a real boost for my motivation.
“My relationship with Eddie Jordan goes back a long way. It was with him that I won the 1989 Formula 3000 title. When I had the opportunity to enter Formula 1 with Tyrrell, just before the 1989 French Grand Prix, it was Eddie who organised the contract for me.
“We promised then that if he ever got his own team going in F1, we’d resurrect our partnership. For various reasons over the past few years, that hasn’t been possible. But today, at last, we’re back together,” Alesi said.
Frentzen, in turn, was relieved to resurrect his career. “I am happy that Alain Prost offered me to drive for the last five Grands Prix. It was very difficult to turn down the opportunity to tackle this new challenge and I am looking forward to supporting the team for the rest of the season,” Frentzen.
