Durand a target for stronger Prost.

Alain Prost is apparently trying to lure McLaren's Henri Durand back to France in order to lift his eponymous team off the bottom of the constructors' championship.

Prost suffered badly with a poor chassis-engine combination in 2000, and the Frenchman, now confirmed as remaining in charge after speculation that he may quit, is determined to right the wrongs next season.

He has already been linked with former Benetton team manager Joan Villadelprat, who is still expected to link up with the team next year, but reports from close to the team now suggest that aerodynamicist Durand is Prost's biggest target for 2001. Durand has been an integral part of the McLaren team alongside Adrian Newey in recent years, and is seen as a key acquisition for a team whose car was infamously criticised by driver Jean Alesi this year.

"Give me a few pieces of wool and a strong breeze on the Avignon Bridge, and I could come up with a better package," the fiery Frenchman is reported to have said.

Alesi also remains with Prost next year, and is looking forward to using the latest spec Ferrari engine and gearbox instead of the problem-plagued Peugeot unit the team used in 2000. A second driver has yet to be confirmed, although Marc Gene is now thought to be out of the running after the possibility of Telefonica sponsorship fell through. Pedro de la Rosa and Pedro Diniz are both thought to be under consideration, despite denials by the former's manager Raimon Duran.

Prost is believed to be holding a press conference next few weeks to confirm his new arrivals.