Jordan or Nothing in 2002, Says Alesi

French veteran Jean Alesi says his future in Formula One is in the hands of Eddie Jordan. The 37-year-old Alesi, attending the opening of a Honda car factory in Britain, told reporters that he had not talked to any team other than his current one about next year.

Asked whether this meant his options for next season boiled down to persuading them to keep him on or nothing, he replied: "For the moment, yes."

But he said he was relaxed about it.

"I have no pressure and I am not worried by anything. I am always asking him (team boss Eddie Jordan) to keep me," Alesi said. "At the moment I am not looking for any other place. I just want to stay in the team."

Alesi joined Jordan before last month's Hungarian Grand Prix to replace sacked German Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who took the Frenchman's seat at Prost. Sunday's Italian Grand Prix will be his third race for the team and 199th of his career.

Alesi raced for Jordan a decade ago in Formula 3000 and the two are close friends but the team are going through what the Irish entrepreneur calls a phase of restructuring. They have yet to say who will partner Italian Giancarlo Fisichella next season when he re-joins on a long-term contract from Benetton. But younger drivers are being considered.

Big Result

"It's so difficult nowadays to win immediately with young drivers but if you are going to plan for the future it's something you need to look at as well," said Jordan. "For a very great number of years he (Alesi) was in the wrong place at the wrong time so I'd love to give him a big result if it were possible.

"But I also am obliged to my sponsors and my team to see what the best situation is going forward. We're just having a look around, it's always nice to see and if you are talking about restructuring you have to look at all aspects."

The key, he said, was whether to go for an experienced driver who could produce results immediately or a younger one who would take longer to get there but might have greater potential.

"You have to make a decision, what is the best long-term future for Jordan," said Jordan. "But it's not a real big issue at the moment. Jean and I have an option with each other and we'll chat it out. He did a great job in Spa and I've every belief he will do a similar job in Monza."

Alesi said that whatever the future held, he was not about to pack in racing.

"I will not stop driving for sure," he said. "I am close to the end but I don't need to retire and I don't want to retire. You don't need to think I am worried about anything for the future. I am not."