Heinz-Harald Frentzen has warned his Jordan replacement Jean Alesi that he is in for a tough time adapting to the Irish team's car.

Alesi last raced for Jordan in 1989, when his F3000 title win provided Eddie Jordan with a launchpad into Formula One, but despite his familiarity with the boss, Frentzen said the task of becoming quickly competitive at the team would prove mountainous for the former Prost driver.

"I hope the best for him," said Frenzten, who was making his first appearance as a Prost driver in Budapest yesterday.

"I don't know though. His driving style may not suit the Jordan. The car is specially made for us, for Jarno (Trulli) and me, with two pedals. I think they had a lot of work to do to make the car suitable for him, it will be difficult."

Frentzen's fears for the Frenchman were confirmed by new Prost team-mate Luciano Burti, who explained that Alesi's in-car controls configuration would not translate to the EJ11.

"I think I know Jean quite well now and I think he needs to be happy with the team to do well. I think Jordan can supply that but I'm not sure if he's going to get the equipment he needs, like the pedal set up.

"He brakes with the right foot and I'm not sure if he'll be able to do that at Jordan and also he likes to have a foot clutch rather than as a paddle on the steering.

"Those little things can be upsetting for a driver. But Jean is a guy who is always going to be pushing hard. He has a great talent, very good car control and with Jordan I think he can do a good job."

Frentzen is now charged with rescuing what has become an increasingly desperate season for Prost, who, despite having four points in the bag courtesy of Alesi, are in dire financial straits and need convincing results fast.

The German admitted that he was starting from scratch and that the road ahead would be tough, starting with this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.

"I just have to start from zero and see how I get along with the people at Prost," he said. "I went to the factory because I wanted to see what their data is like and what the facilities and possibilities are and all of this was enough for me to decide to drive for the team. On the basics I think the team is okay, there are some very professional people working there. I think we'll do okay."

Doing okay won't be good enough, though, and Frentzen's first task is to bypass his Brazilian team-mate, a feat Alesi managed 5-3. "I understand that Luciano is a very quick driver and he's gaining a lot of experience this year. He hasn't been to most of the circuits before but he has been with some very experienced team-mates. If he beats me, I wish him all the best. But we'll see.

"On one side he knows the team and how the car works and on the other side I'm starting from zero, so there's a lot to think about. For me the tyres are new as well, so that's a considerable new challenge."

Frentzen, looking ill at ease under scrutiny, would not give anything away about the sacking that has seen him plummet from the sharp end of the grid to a struggling tail-end team.

"I don't want to go into any details, the small things I gave away recently are just the facts. The fact that Jordan sacked me after the British Grand Prix and that's all I want to say. The rest will come out in court.

"I think I had a good contract with Jordan. We'll see. It has been terminated and obviously there's some discussion about that but it will all be decided in court. Contracts are there to help the relationship or sometimes make it more difficult."

Both Frentzen and Alesi had brief runs in their new cars in the run-up to this weekend's grand prix, Frentzen last Friday and Alesi on Monday, both drivers taking advantage of a loophole in the holiday period test ban which allows teams a 50km shakedown.

Both admitted afterwards that the few laps they did were inconclusive and were more a matter of seat fitting and adjustment than about getting to grips with the car.

That test will come today as both take to the Hungaroring in the morning and afternoon free practice session. It will be baptism of fire for both but the haunted look in Frentzen's eyes yesterday spoke volumes about who he feels will come through it in better shape.