Alesi's manager Mario Miyakawa said he expected the 37-year-old driver's future to be settled in the next day or two. "We are still in the process of discussions with Alain (Prost) and Jordan because I can confirm that Jean wants to leave the team and we want to find a friendly solution."

The Frenchman is understood to have had a seat fitting with the Irish team on Thursday, but Miyakawa said he was unable to confirm or deny this and wanted to avoid any comments that would upset delicate final negotiations.
�As of today (Friday) nothing is confirmed and we are in a very delicate situation which will develop and should be solved by the weekend," he added.

Prost, however, are determined to hold on to Alesi's services and have denied the French driver has already made the move.
"I will not say there is not a problem, but Jean has not signed with Jordan or with anyone else," said Prost spokeswoman Virginie Papin. "He is under contract and we don't want him to leave. Alain is ready to defend his rights on Jean.
"Jean and Alain are trying to sort it out and Jean is wanting to leave, but we don't know what Alain is ready to do. Who knows what he will do if he can't stop him."

Alesi is the most experienced man on the Grand Prix grid with 196 races under his belt, but times have gone sour at Prost where it is believed the team has had problems in paying him.