OCTOBER 12, 2005

Jean Alesi and McLaren

It may read like a headline from a few years ago but it seems that it could be a story in the future as well as the 41-year-old Frenchman looks at things to do when he decides to hang up with helmet. The rumours in Suzuka suggested that Alesi may be involved in the plans for a 12th Formula 1 team, to be run from the old McLaren factory in Woking and funded by Middle Eastern money, possibly the Emirates airline, which is owned by the government of Dubai.

The suggestion is that Alesi would be a front man in much the same way as old rivals Johnny Herbert is with Jordan or Gerhard Berger was with BMW Motorsport.

Alesi was present in Suzuka (having previously shown up in Monza a few weeks earlier) and spent a lot of time talking to McLaren boss Ron Dennis.

Whether this means anything remains to be seen.

Alesi is currently racing for Mercedes-Benz in the DTM.