Grapevine: Alonso Linked to Prost Drive in 2002

According to reports in the French press, Spanish driver Fernando Alonso could be on his way to the Prost team in the 2002 season despite assurances from Minardi boss Paul Stoddart that the 19-year old will remain with them one more year.

Alonso has impressed in his debut season in Formula One, clearly outperforming his more experienced teammate Tarso Marques at Minardi and often beating the Benetton and Arrows drivers with the underpowered Minardi. Alonso's five-year contract with Minardi is owned by Benetton boss Flavio Briatore, who will control it until the end of the 2004 season.

Briatore, who was recently rumoured to be close to becoming the boss of engine provider Asiatech, is thought to be keen to see Alonso at Prost in order for the Spanish teenager to gain experience before taking him to Benetton - who will be renamed Renault next season - in a near future.

It is also thought that Prost could be interested in hiring Alonso, for the Spaniard is rumoured to be holding talks with Spanish bank La Caixa, sponsor of the Barcelona circuit since the Catalan track was built. La Caixa's financial support could mean Prost would be able to continue using the expensive Ferrari engines next season.

Alain Prost's discussions with Ferrari's sporting director Jean Todt at Silverstone last week were reported to be positive but the French outfit look certainly unable to afford to pay the $25 million the Italian engines are thought to cost. According to Prost's lawyer Maitre Roguet a possible solution to solve the team's problems would be selling a bigger stake to Pedro Diniz, who already owns part of Prost.

"There is always the solution of selling out to Pedro Diniz," Roguet was quoted as saying by TF1. "But that would imply that Alain Prost would lose control of the team."