Jordan Sees New Wave of Young F1 Drivers

Team owner Eddie Jordan believes a new wave of talented young drivers is about to break into Formula One.

The Irishman has yet to announce who will partner Italian Giancarlo Fisichella at his Jordan team next season, although French veteran Jean Alesi would like to retain the drive. Alesi took the seat in August as a replacement for sacked German Heinz-Harald Frentzen, but Jordan knows he is spoilt for choice and has tested out a number of promising youngsters.

Two of them were Justin Wilson, the first Briton to win the Formula 3000 title, and Indian Narain Karthikeyan.

"I think both of them are very impressive," said Jordan at a news conference on Friday. "It just seems to be coming that there's a number of young drivers who have really strong ability and it's trying to find the correct one."

Honda-powered Jordan have also been linked with Japan's Takuma Sato, who won the British Formula Three title this season with a record number of wins. Sato has a deal with rival Honda team British American Racing (BAR) as a development driver, although the exact contractual details are not known.

Sato Interest

Jordan made clear that he was interested in Sato, who he tested less than a year ago.

"I believe he's quick," he said. "I think if you check his record, he's won more Formula Three races than anyone in the British series before. Although it has slightly changed, there are two races now on some days.

"One thing's for sure, he is a very big talent...But there are a lot of good drivers up and coming. I think there is a resurgence. If there's five or six drivers you're looking at, of course Sato would be one of them."

Three young drivers have made waves in Formula One in the last two years, with 21-year-old Briton Jenson Button paving the way at Williams last season before joining Benetton. Finland's Kimi Raikkonen, 21, has been one of the sensations of 2001 at Sauber and is joining McLaren next year as Mika Hakkinen's replacement.

And 20-year-old Spaniard Fernando Alonso has impressed many people with his driving at tail-enders Minardi. He is also under contract to Renault. Jordan paid tribute to his friend Alesi, at 37 the oldest driver in Formula One, who will be celebrating his 200th race start this weekend.