Grapevine: Alesi Has Seat Fitting at Jordan Factory

Jean Alesi has reportedly quit Prost Grand Prix, in an attempt to join Jordan as soon as possible. However, the French-Sicilian is not expected to race with the Silverstone-based outfit until the Belgian Grand Prix at the end of this month.

Alesi, nevertheless, spent over six hours today at the Jordan factory, where he had a seat fitting for the EJ11. Alesi used to race for Eddie Jordan some 12 years ago, in F3000, and the two are considered good friends - Jordan stating last year that Alesi should have been World Champion in his Formula One career.

In the mean time, team owner Alain Prost made it perfectly clear that he will not let his veteran driver jump teams without a fight. "Eddie cannot just come and take any driver he wants," Prost told Atlas F1. "There are contracts and Jean has a contract with us until the end of the season."

With reports tonight stating that Alesi had already in fact handed in his resignation to Prost, an insider at the French team said the matter will be taken to the Contract Recognition Board for litigation.

In any event, speculations state that Alesi will be forced to wait until the Belgian Grand Prix, due to the fact that no testing is allowed before Hungary due the the new summer break testing ban. Alesi will have to drive the Jordan car in testing before attending a Grand Prix with it and will therefore not race before the weekend in Spa.

In the mean time, both Prost and Jordan refrained from making any comments tonight about the reports, and there is yet any confirmation as to where Alesi will be racing in the upcoming races, if at all.