Prost Optimistic but Refuses to Get Excited

Alain Prost is optimistic his Formula One team will survive their financial crisis, but refused to give any details on a reported rescue bid and added that they will have to wait until January 15 to know the future of his squad.

Prost, who went into receivership in November last year with debts of around $28 million, set a January 15 dateline to find a rescuer or face liquidation. However, in the past few days, reports have emerged suggesting an unknown French investor is willing to buy most of the team's shares.

Prost said he was rather optimistic that a deal would come through, but added that "it's necessary to wait until January 15th. One month ago, we signed two agreements, one of which was very serious. But the money didn't arrive and that's why it is best to wait," he told French radio RMC Info. "Today I'm optimistic, but let's wait.

"Along with the administrator, we agreed not to comment on any of these kind of reports although we have had five or six offers," he added.

Meanwhile, Prost's spokeswoman Virginie Papin on Wednesday did not deny the reports about the possible rescuer.

"I cannot say that is not true," Papin said. "But there are many things happening, and they are happening faster and faster as the deadline closes in. We need to start again. When we get a title sponsor there are many interested people waiting to sign and if we find 20 million dollars we will easily find double that.

"Some of the parties interested have investments in companies which are keen to take up sponsorship opportunities."