Alesi to Prost "Now Build Me A Car!"

[Liz]

Now that Prost has secured an engine for their elegant looking diecasts, Jean Alesi has signed on to finish out his F1 career at Prost and is demanding, as only Jean can demand, that John Barnard design his car for next year. As you might remember, Jean said that with a bit of cotton wool and sticky tape he could himself design a better aerodynamic package on the Bridge at Avignon. Do you think that if John Barnard designs the APO4, perhaps it will be able to finish races next year?

[Danielsun]

Of course it will, and hopefully much higher up the grid than it has done since the somewhat more heady days back in the 1997 and '98 seasons.

Ferrari power will undoubtedly help the Prosts' cause and with a better car aerodynamically, should be able to qualify at least in the midfield, maybe even higher. Barnard has always been a good designer, but I do seem to recall the last time he was united with Ferrari - and Prost - the cars did have a certain reliability problem.

Mind you, Ferrari engines nowadays are a whole lot better than the early 1990s...

[TimD]

Well, the Ferrari motor, even in its present form, will still be midfield quick next season.

And John Barnard has been known to pull some championship winning cars out of the bag before now.

But allied with the Prost team? I can't help thinking it's all going to be a sorry shower, even with those quick elements in their armoury.

Aphorisms about breweries, parties and organisation spring hideously to mind.

[Danielsun]

Bobby Rahal is probably an exception to the rule, in that drivers - once retired - who think they can run an entire team will more often than not fail miserably. I was - and still am - one of Alain Prost's biggest fans and so it kills me to see cars bearing his name trundling around tracks battling with Minardis.

That's certainly no offence to Minardi, Mr Fan, especcialy considering what their budget - or rather lack thereof - must be.

It simply is shaming to see such an F1 great torn up by the racing fraternity by controlling a team that's clearly in as much turmoil as Prost is now. It certainly hasn't helped that the two drivers have had 'comings together' on numerous occasions.

Alain should stay on - if only for next year - to try to prove that he can do it. If he left the sport for good at the end of this season, he'd be known as a great driver but as an absolute quitter. He never was that in the car...