Business not friendship for Alesi

The fiery Frenchman has signed to drive next year for the team owned by his former Ferrari team-mate after quitting Sauber in disgust at the last round in Hungary.

But he says his will not let his close relationship with the four-time championship interfere with his career.

'It is not a matter of boss or friend. There is just boss - and that's it,' he said at the Belgian Grand Prix as he made his first appearance after the announcement of his team swap.

'When you need to work, that's it. I work. I'm not looking for a party when
I am trying to explain something technical.'

'I respect very much what Alain has done as a driver and especially now in setting up a French team. To be next to him is very, very nice for me.'

Prost admits he is worried their friendship could be affected by working so closely with the explosive Frenchman who announced two weeks ago he was quitting Sauber at the end of the year because of continuing problems with his car.

'We have talked very much over the last few years about the possibility, one day, of driving for my team,' he said.

'When you talk about work and the team, you put friendship aside. When the [technical] discussion is finished you can be friends.

'But it is difficult for me to make a decision because I do not want to break a friendship - because, at the end of the day, in life to have a friend is important. You don't want to lose that.

'Work is work. Jean is more professional than some people on the outside think. And being able to be frank can help to be even closer together from the work point of view.'

Prost said he had not signed Alesi to his French team with a French engine and French sponsors just because he is French too.

'It is very annoying that from the beginning that people thought I wanted to be have a 100 per cent French team. That is not true at all. We are all
French in the team but we want more and more international exposure.

'The fact that we have taken on another French driver is circumstance but not a desire at all.'

Alesi said in Hungary he would leave Sauber because his car had run out of fuel three times during the race.