Sport

Alesi may replace Schumacher

Jean Alesi is being tipped as the driver most likely to step into the number two role at Ferrari, following Michael Schumacher…

By JUSTIN HYNES
Tue Jul 13 1999 - 01:00

Jean Alesi is being tipped as the driver most likely to step into the number two role at Ferrari, following Michael Schumacher's 140 mph smash at the British Grand Prix on Sunday.

Schumacher is likely to be sidelined for up to eight weeks and at least three races following the crash which left him with a double fracture to his right leg and Alesi is now being tipped to temporarily return to Ferrari after a leaving the team to make way for Eddie Irvine four years ago.

Alesi currently drives for the Swiss-based Sauber team, which uses last year's Ferrari engine and would be familiar with the internal set-up of the team. However, Sauber yesterday denied that the 35-year-old Frenchman would be making the switch to Ferrari.

"Jean has a contract with us," said a spokesman for the team. "Ferrari also has a test driver and would be more likely to turn to him first."

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That test driver is Luca Badoer, currently racing with the lowly Minardi team. He has retired in three of this seasons eight grands prix so far.

If Badoer does replace Schumacher at Ferrari, the way becomes open for a second crack at Formula One for F3000 driver Stephane Sarrazin.

The young Frenchman replaced Badoer in the Minardi for this season's Brazilian Grand Prix when Badoer was injured testing for Ferrari at Mugello. Sarrazin has been a consistent scorer for his Gauloises Formula team, the proving ground for Prost and his sole outing for Minardi was sanctioned by Alain Prost, to whom Sarrazin is contracted.

Meanwhile, Schumacher was last night expected to return to his home in Switzerland following a successful operation on the fractures to his right leg sustained in Sunday's accident.

According to Reuter, Ferrari have asked Finland's Mika Salo (32) to test their Formula One car in Italy. "He has been asked for a test. What that means we don't know," Salo's manager Mike Greasley said.

Greasley said that Salo, who has driven in Formula One for Lotus, Tyrrell, Arrows and BAR, had left for Italy yesterday afternoon and was likely to drive the car for the first time today.