Prost is testing Servia & Minassian! Only test-drivers or substitution for Mazzacane?

[Jeanburrasca81]

If Prost is testing Oriol Servia and Nicolas Minassian...well...I'm not so sure they do this just because they need a test driver. Couldn't it be they are already testing someone to take Gaston's seat after some more races? I mean...what sense does it make to have a driver in your team who is that much slower than the teammate? You only loose a second possibility to make points besides those who will be (hopefully) won by Jeannot.
Prost is a businessman...he has to do see what's best for his team! I like Gaston as a person...but as a driver?
We'll see how this will finish...

[Jeanburrasca81]

he looks faster than he is...lol

[Tristan]

Yes, Alain IS a businessman, and in order for his team to survive he HAS to have Gaston as a driver as he brings in $$$ from PSN and others (dunno who, I admit!! Anyone know where GM get his dosh from??)

[Jeanburrasca81]

I think there is a way to kick gaston out of the team...there must be a way...lol. Money is already payed...lol!

[OVERSTEER]

I think that we can rule out Nicolas Minnasian now because he is driving for Target Chip Ganassi racing in Champ cars over in America, I think if Mazzacane is kicked out then expect Oriol Servia or Stephane Sarrazin to replace him.

[Jeanburrasca81]

Yes, I have Sarrazin on my list...as a personal favorite..I liked him on his Minardi in Brazil...he was quick then...
For those who don't know him well...that's him...

[Liz]

The only time I saw Stephane in an F1 car, he spun about eight times in rapid succession. While this was entertaining, it didn't seem to advance the car very far.

Nikolas and Oriol are both under contract in Champ Cars. I think Gaston will be safe for the season...

[kuchi]

I think they are just testers for the moment, or at least until they bring a better sponsor than PSN. And Oriol and minnasian only have one year contracts I think, so never say never.

[wodonnell]

Just remembered something I read not long ago...

Apparently (according to the rumour) Prost has been talking with Camel regarding sponsorship.

Coupled with the fact that despite the fact that PSN is the main sponsor, its coverage of the car is minimal I think there may just be something in it.

Obviously Minassian and Oriol are contracted to their CART teams so if Mazzacane was to be replaced it is going to be either by Sarrazin (who was fired by his F3000 team last year for not performing) or an experienced F1 driver.

Blundell would be a long shot as I don't think he has been in an F1 car for a while. Most likely Prost would go for one of the many experienced test drivers.

Which ties in with yet another story I seem to recall reading about Ricardo Zonta.

Maybe its just coincidence (very likely!) but maybe, just maybe there is something there.

[Daisy]

No Mazzacane, no PSN, no money, no Ferrarimotors. So think Mazzacane will stay. But i'd rather see an other driver than Mazzacane, he's almost 2 seconds slower than Alesi! Thats too much.

[senna12]

Well, as team principal, it is Alains responsibility to obtain the biggest budget possible. He no doubt feels that a MAJOR sponsor, one that offered significant dollars, would allow him the luxury of replacing PSN dollars. Most good, young drivers come with sponsorships, and a good, tested, capable driver alongside Jean would bring modest results and attract sponsors that way. Prost counts on Mazza's dollars now, but you can be sure that he knows he needs some serious coin if he wants to play with the big boys, as well as a serious driver to replace Gaston.
Why aren't any big French multi-nationals getting involved with Prost? Its not the Ferrari motors, is it??

[Jeanburrasca81]

With those frenchmen you never know...lol.

[Sharky]

I'm not so sure about Mazzacane staying. I watch the races on PSN and they've had a very "shy" coverage of Gaston this season. Much unlike the previous season with Minardi. Remember also that PSN is a network for latin america as a whole and therefore any latin american driver would suit. An argentinian would certainly make the commentators happy but a brazilian, for example, is good for sponsorahip as well. And since over here there's some kind of "compatibility" with spaniards regarding "nationality" servia could be useful as well. In fact, I would say that all that PSN wants is a spanish speaking driver to grant them every single inteview they want.

I think that servia could land a deal with prost. He did impress me last year in CART and this year he did a respectable performance with a brand new (and very poorly founded) team. Now, in case he moved to F1 he would be the only spanish driver with a competitive seat (at least while Alonso gets a drive in a good team). Spanish sponsors such as Repsol or Telefonica could be keen to return to F1......maybe not investing as much money as they did but....

As for Minassian. I doubt that would happen. He has a stong contract with Ganassi and knowing the ego that Chip has I doubt that he would let him go.

BTW. Remember that de la rosa was supposed to drive for prost as a tester at first possibly replacing Mazzacane if he failed to perform and once he signed with Jaguar Alain Prost was very upset......so......if the la rosa was in line to replace Gaston I don't see why some other driver can't be in line too.