Jean Alesi began his Formula1 career with Tyrrell in 1989 before moving to Ferrari, where he spent five years. During this spell he recorded his one and only victory - at the Canadian Grand Prix in 1995.

From there he went to Benetton and, after two difficult years, moved to Sauber for the start of the 1998 Championship, his tenth season in Grand Prix. A third place in the carnage at Spa was one of only four points scoring appearances that year, and his frustration expressed itself in his dissatisfaction at team mate Johnny Herbert.

1999 was also not kind to the French Sicilian and it culminated in a typically emotional outburst after the Hungarian Grand Prix , when he announced that he would be leaving Sauber. It was a frustrating year of non-finishes and disappointing performances, indeed he retired from half the races of the season, and his best result was sixth place in San Marino and Japan.

2000 with Prost was no great improvement, despite the fact that he was working with his great friend Alain Prost. Alesi retired from 12 of the 17 races that he competed in and did not manage to score a single championship point. He tangled with team mate, Nick Heidfeld, twice on track and a strained atmosphere soon developed between the two until the close of the season.

This year looks likely to be an improvement, with Ferrari supplying Prost with engines and the AP04 already setting much improved times in preseason testing. Alesi is now entering his 13th year in the sport, and will partner the inexperienced Gaston Mazzacane