Alain Prost is holding out little hope for the survival chances of his Formula One team, which slid into receivership last month.
The four times world champion said today that the team faced liquidation if a partner was not secured within the next month.
"If, by January 14, I have found no partners, it will very likely mean the liquidiation of Prost Grand Prix," the Frenchman said in an interview to be published tomorrow in French financial daily newspaper Les Echos.
Prost, which employs staff of around 300, went into receivership in November, saddled with debts of 200 million French francs ($28 million).
The receivership protects the team from bankruptcy for six months but there is a January 15 deadline for firms to register their interest, Les Echossaid.
Prost has said the team must find a sponsor to help it shrug off its debts and earlier this month expressed optimism over their Formula One future. But he has since taken a gloomier stance.
"Two or three projects seemed very serious. We pressed forward with one and thought we would sign a deal. But in the end we realised that the partner would not bring financial security for the firm," he told Les Echos.
The newspaper said the thwarted deal was with an investment fund.
Recent media speculation over rescue offers has focused on a Saudi prince and a Canadian group called Vector Motor Sport.
Prost struggled through the 2001 season without a major sponsor and have so far failed to attract one for 2002 because of the uncertainty over the team's survival. -Reuters