Alesi makes Jordan switch

Veteran: Alesi made his Formula One debut in 1989

French veteran Jean Alesi has been signed by the Jordan Formula One team as a replacement for the Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

Meanwhile, Frentzen, acrimoniously sacked by the Jordan team last month, will make an immediate return to F1 with Prost in the Hungarian Grand Prix on 19 August.

Team owner Eddie Jordan confirmed to BBC Radio Five Live that Alesi had been signed for the remainder of the season.

He said: "Jean Alesi is coming back to Jordan after 12 years and we're very excited.

Alain Prost and I are very good friends and it is important to make it clear that there is absolutely no animosity

Eddie Jordan

"We need to put a number of parts together to start to win again and we need a really experienced person to help us put them together. "

And he was also at pains to point out that the Alesi signing had been amicable.

He told the Jordan website: "There has not been a year goes by when Jean does not come to talk to me about driving for Jordan... we are old friends so this is normal.

"But we only struck this deal once Jean was free to join Jordan.

"Alain Prost and I are also very good friends and it is important to make it clear that there is absolutely no animosity over the course of events which have led to Jean joining Jordan."

'Determined to carry on'

However, Prost said he felt let down by Alesi's decision to leave, describing it as a "betrayal of friendship".

He added: "It wasn't our choice that Jean should leave. In fact, three weeks ago we were even talking about a new contract.

"A driver should honour his contract and it is not right that he should air his problems in public," said Prost.

The Frenchman added that he was determined to solve the dilemmas currently facing his team.

"I will still be in Formula One next season at the head of the team."

Alesi previously raced for the Jordan team in Forumula 3000 in 1989, winning three out of nine races to become champion.

Frentzen will race for Prost for the rest of the season

He made his F1 debut with Tyrrell the same year as a last-ditch replacement for Michele Alboreto after being recommended by none other than Jordan, who was also his manager at the time.

Alesi, who will make his Jordan F1 debut at the Hungarian GP, said he was glad to returning to the Jordan ranks.

He told the Jordan website: "I am overjoyed by this development in my career. Eddie launched me into Formula One, so to return to race for him after all this time is something very special.

"Although I will not be able to test the car before racing in Hungary, I feel so motivated that I don't believe this will be a problem. I am very excited."

Alesi cannot test because there is a three-week testing hiatus in force in F1 between the German and Hungarian races this year.

He and Frentzen, however, will be able to do 50km (31 miles) in their new cars in the week of the Hungarian race.

Alesi, 37, famed for his wet weather driving skills, has driven in 196 Grand Prix and scored his only win in Canda in 1995 for Ferrari.

His achievements in the last few years place him among the best drivers

Alain Prost on Frentzen

In 1997, he finished in third place in the World Drivers Championship while with Benetton.

On the same day that Jordan announced Alesi's switch, Prost revealed that Frentzen would race for them for the rest of the season.

Team owner Alain Prost said: "I am delighted to welcome Heinz-Harald Frentzen to our team.

"His achievements in the last few years place him among the best drivers, and his large experience within top Formula One teams will be a strong asset for us for the remainder of the 2001 season."

Prost gave his own interpretation of Alesi's move to Jordan.

He added: "It is essential to preserve our team's serenity in this moment when we are building up Prost Grand Prix's future and consolidating our strategy for the upcoming years.

"This is why I chose to release Jean."