Alesi pledges support for Ferrari

(27-Oct-98) - Sauber driver Jean Alesi has vowed he will help Michael
Schumacher win the World Championship should the opportunity arise.

"If I could help him I'll willingly do it," said the 34-year-old
former Ferrari driver who has become a friend of the German.

Alesi took the opportunity to dismiss stories that he could replace Eddie
Irvine at Ferrari next year.

"I would like to return to Ferrari at some point and I have confessed
this to friends." He said. "But nobody has asked me and there has
been no contact about that sort of thing. I have an iron contract with
Sauber, just as Irvine has with Ferrari."

Rumours this summer suggested that Schumacher was trying to get Alesi a
drive at Ferrari, however, Alesi fell out with Jean Todt and could not
drive a car set up for Schumacher when he replaced him at Benetton in 1996.
These factors together make the move seem unlikely.

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