Alesi to jump ship to Jordan? (Updated)

Jordan sacked driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen just days his home race, the German Grand Prix, after a series of uncompetitive performances by the German.

The team itself has also refused to comment on its driver options, but is believed to have already been in talks with the fiery pedaller. It is rumoured that Alesi could even be in the car from the next race in Hungary.

But his last-minute replacement for Hockenheim, test driver Ricardo Zonta, failed to set the world alight, qualifying only 15th and retiring from the race after damaging his car in a collision with Jos Verstappen's Arrows.

The Silverstone-based team is anxious to finish ahead of its Honda-powered rival BAR in the constructors' title and the tried-and-tested Alesi - who took another point for sixth in Hockenheim - fits the bill as a guaranteed points-getter. Prost is also said to be keen to engineer a contractual buyout in order to release some welcome funds for the struggling French team.

When quizzed on the rumour by ITV's Louise Goodman, a less-than-ecstatic Alesi said: "I will explain something a little bit later on. At the moment, I am happy for the team."

Japanese rising Formula 3 star and Honda protégé Takuma Sato had also been linked to a move to Jordan, but sources close to him say he will remain in the British F3 series - at least until he clinches the title.

Alesi - at 37 the oldest driver in F1 - has enjoyed something of a renaissance this season, scoring points in Monaco, Canada and now Germany. He had been linked to a switch to Champ Cars in 2002.

Frentzen was linked to a seat in Toyota's 2002 debut F1 campaign, but Toyota team boss Ove Andersson has denied this.

Meanwhile, Jordan is believed to be facing a multi-million dollar lawsuit from Frentzen for loss of earnings on a contract that was scheduled to run until the end of 2002 and for damages based on what the German sees as a slur on his professional standing.