Telefonica/Gene to Prost

[angst]

It seems that Pedro Diniz getting less sponsorship from Parmalat so Prost are not as interested in him. It seems he will remain at Sauber. The rumours are that Prost is trying to lure Telefonica from Minardi to pay for the Ferrari engines next year and that signing Gene is a part of that deal. Leaves Minardi with Mazzacane and needing another driver and sponsor. Both Wurz and Zonta have apparently signed for Mclaren as testers. Who for Minardi now? (obviously assuming that the Prost/Telefonica thing goes through)
All info from Autosport.com.

[slicktoast]

I thought Wurz had a possible non-testing offer & hadn't finalized a deal yet.

[angst]

Ferrari - MS and Rubinho
Mclaren - Mika and DC
Williams - Ralf and Montoya
Jordan - HH and Jarno
Benetton - Fisi and Bunson
BAR - JV and Panis
Sauber - Heidfeld and Diniz
Prost - Alesi and Gene
Jaguar - Irvine and Burti
Arrows - Verstappen and De la Rosa
Minardi - Mazzacane and ?
If all the anticipated deals go through, will this be a record for the earliest the following years line-up has been confirmed (with the exception of Minardi)?

[Gerard]

If Gene is moving to Prost, wouldn't that open the door for Fernando Alonso or Giorgio Vinella, Minardi's test drivers?
I personally would go for Fernando Alonso.

[gomick]

a yellow prost,instead of french blue...

[Danielsun]

Please spare us the thought... Mind you, as much as I dislike Gene for his anti-McLaren lapping stance, I'd rather him in a Prost than Diniz, the human crash...

[Liz]

Any chance Jaguar will let Rahal drive one of their cars?

I don't think that Gene to Prost story is very credible. But time will tell.

[angst]

Personally I hope it isn't. I think that at the moment Gene and Telefonica would be better off at Minardi, unless Prost are going to use Barnard a little more for next years car. Even then I think there is alot of reorganisation to be done there yet.
P.s. It's a pity Bobby Rahal was never given a proper chance in F1 in his earlier days, it was obviously the path he had decided upon, considering his European racing education. I think he would have been great in the eighties.

[Dino IV]

Gene is Telefonica backed, but Alonso is as well.
I hope the latter gets his F1 entry next year at Prost if that deal is set.

Minardi are in serious trouble then.
The buy Renault's next year aren't they? That will not be that cheap ... but maybe they can get a serious cut when they enter a Renault driver. Maybe one of Flav's squad next year? Pizzonia maybe?

[Minardi fan]

It won't happen.

Gene technically still has 2 years of his Minardi contract to run, was confirmed as staying at Minardi a while ago according to some sources, and Alonso is supported by Telefonica. If Telefonica go anywhere, it will be to Renault in 2002 - in part because Flavio was about to sign Alonso when Minardi beat him to it .

Hopefully Minardi's buyers will see sense and allow Gene and Alonso to drive next season.

[angst]

Unfortunately Mazzacane brings too much money with him, so that won't happen either.