Alesi quits Sauber

He said he would rather race in America than continue driving for Sauber for another season.

The hot tempered Frenchman said his Sauber ran out of fuel three times during the race and eventually ground to a halt out on the track three laps from the finish.

'The first time it happened the engine started to misfire as came in for my first pit stop,' he said.

'Then it did run out and I had to coast down the pitlane for the second stop.

'I couldn't put the limiter on because I would not have made it to the garage - and that's why I incured the stop-go penalty for speeding.

'And then I did run out of fuel and did not make it to the finish.

'I am not driving for Sauber next season. I don't know what I am doing next year - maybe Formula One, maybe America.

'Now I am going to have to go and find out what drives there are in Formula One.

'I will honour my contract for the remaining races,' he added as French newspapers said he may not see out the season.

Team owner Peter Sauber said the engine had suffered electronic problems.

'I am sorry Jean has announced he won't be renewing his contract with us because we had a meeting on Thursday on which we decided we would not be working together next year and would be announcing that at Spa or Monza,'he said.

The chances are the Frenchman will switch to a seat at Prost - his former Ferrari teammate - perhaps partnered by Nick Heidfeld who won the Formula 3000 championship in Hungary on Saturday with a second place finish.