Italian Jarno Trulli has reached an agreement to remain with the Jordan team next year, according to his manager Lucio Cavuto. However, Cavuto said that Trulli must wait for a decision from Renault, who own his 2002 contract, before his position could be finalised.
Trulli had signed a contract with Benetton boss Flavio Briatore for next season, when the team will be rebranded as Renault. "We found an agreement with Eddie (Jordan) after Hockenheim and it is now up to Renault to give us the chance to stay with Jordan," said Cavuto.
Benetton have not yet named a second driver to line up alongside Briton Jenson Button. His current partner Italian Giancarlo Fisichella is out of contract.
Meanwhile, Jordan Grand Prix have denied that new driver Jean Alesi has already signed up to drive for the Formula 1 team for the 2002 season. According to reports yesterday, the Frenchman, who replaced sacked German Heinz-Harald Frentzen, claimed on French television that he had signed for next season. However, a spokesperson for the team confirmed that Alesi had not actually signed any deal yet and that any new contract would be agreed at the end of the current campaign.
Alesi's manager Mario Miyakawa has since confirmed that Alesi is in negotiations with Jordan Grand Prix to remain on for next season but that no deal has been signed so far. Miyakawa speculated that is very likely a contract would be signed between Alesi and Jordan before the end of the season but he denied Alesi's claims that it was a done deal.
"I really think this is the impression that we have but I cannot say it's signed because it is not," he said. "We have an option with Jordan but we are still in discussions so it is not confirmed, although the situation looks very good," he explained.
Filed by Greg McKevitt
