The relationship further deteriorated in Melbourne in 1997 when Jean ran out of fuel, after failing to read a pit signal. However despite his tempestuous relationship with the team's management, Alesi's record at Benetton was good. He scored many podium finishes and finished fourth in the world championship both years he was there.
For 1998 he moved to Sauber where he achieved little in the way of
results, apart form a solitary third place in Belgium. By mid 1999 he had fallen out with Sauber and opted to join forces with his old chum Alain Prost.
The partnership turned out to be disaster after Jean was lumbered with a dog of a car. It lacked grip and downforce and the Peugeot engine was unreliable and underpowered. For the first time in his career, Alesi ended a season with no points on the board.
2001 may prove to be Jean's final season unless he can arrest the decline of recent years. A lot will depend on the new Ferrari-powered Prost AP04 which can't fail to be an improvement on the 2000 car.