Jean Alesi has committed himself to Sauber-Petronas ...

Published on 15 September 1997 by Verstappen Info Page

Jean Alesi has committed himself to Sauber-Petronas for two years as was expected since this Saturday. The deal is said to be worth about five Million dollars a year. The 33 year-old Frenchman from Avignon will become the teammate of Johnny Herbert and replaces Gianni Morbidelli. Alesi said about it: "I am very much looking forward to working with Peter Sauber and his team. The team has the potential to join the top teams in Formula One in the near future. I would like to contribute my share of experience which I was able to gain driving for Ferrari and Benetton." Peter Sauber added to this: "I am convinced that with Johnny Herbert and Jean Alesi we will have a very strong driver pairing in the coming season". Alesi started his Formula 1 career in 1989 with Tyrrell Ford for which he drove two years. After five years of Ferrari he switched to Benetton in 1996.

Giancarlo Fisichella will definitively drive for Bennetton next year after the team won a dispute with Jordan for the High Court in London today. The judge ordered a three-day stay on the order to give Jordan the chance to appeal. Jordan will decide on Tuesday wether to continue the court battle.