Prost in financial difficulties

[Gerard]

The Prost team is facing an unsure future with speculations of their financial difficulties.

They have given numerous testing sessions a miss because of financial considerations and according to reports in Eurosport, they have yet to pay the £18 million bill for their 2001 Ferrari engine supply as well as Jean Alesi's salary for the 2001 season.

Indications are that the most likely buyer for the team is former Formula One driver Pedro Diniz, who already owns a 40% stake in the team, which he bought in 2000. Should Diniz take control of the Prost team, it is almost sure that Jean Alesi would be looking elsewhere for a drive for the 2002 season, leaving Diniz to sign up Brazilian drivers for the 2002 season. In the event of such it is also unlikely that Prost would continue to receive Ferrari engines and their most likely options include Asiatech or maybe Renault.
It is even doubtful whether Alain Prost continues as team principal.