Alain Prost has ditched claims that he is about to move his eponymous team to the UK, claiming that it will retain its French identity.
Rumours began to suggest that Prost may uproot from its recently acquired Guyancourt base near Paris after the go-ahead was given for design consultant John Barnard to move to new premises in Surrey, England. Barnard's B3 Technologies company is closely linked to Prost, and it is understood that the team has helped to fund the new Godalming facility. The new premises are said to be big enough to house an entire F1 outfit, but Prost is adamant that his team will not relocate.
Barnard insisted on remaining in the UK during his spell with
Ferrari, something which ultimately led to a parting of the ways with the Italian giant, but does not appear to be a concern to Prost.
Prost Grand Prix will develop its own, English, technological arm," the four-times champion said, "re-inforcing the collaboration that already exists with B3 Technologies. But it is a team which holds great importance in conserving a spirit - if not an identity - that is French. A move to Great Britain is out of the question."
