Veteran French Formula One driver Jean Alesi confirmed today that he will retire from Formula One racing after the season finale at Suzuka in Japan this Sunday. His announcement follows an earlier one from Team Jordan that he would not be required next year as they had signed Takuma Sato — the 2001 British Formula Three champion — to a two year contract.
Alesi moved to Jordan from Prost halfway through the season to replace Heinz-Harald Frentzen who in turn signed on with Prost.
At 37 Alesi is the most experienced active driver in F1 and has driven for Tyrell, Ferrari, Benetton, Sauber, Prost and Jordan since his first race in 1989. In 200 Grand Prix starts he has one victory at Montreal in 1995 for Ferrari.
Although Alesi stated that he would not race next year and would not return to Formula One he did not entirely rule out other forms of racing. In the past he has expressed an interest in racing in the United States after his F1 career is over and he may be thinking of a CART or IRL ride like Johnny Herbert.