OCTOBER 5, 2001
Verstappen and Alesi perplexed
The rumor that Arrows may be bidding to land both Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jean Alesi for 2002, thereby sacrificing Jos Verstappen's contract, has come as a shock to two of the parties.
The Dutchman's manager, former Osella ace Huub Rothengatter, said: "There are no clues that gives us any doubt about next year."
Alesi himself was far from amused. "For me it is Jordan or nothing," he said. "It is clear from the moment I signed my contract with Jordan that an option for next year has been included.
"Jordan has not announced a driver line-up yet and there are several other contenders for that seat, but I hope I can stay."
No comment has been made from Frentzen's camp however. The German has become a much-prized asset at Prost Grand Prix and the French team is seeking to retain him and Tomas Enge for 2002, as Luciano Burti has this week been claimed to hold little hope of returning to hold little hope of an F1 return by the Brazilian media.