Alesi: “I was driving in “show mode” in Monaco”

His race excited the all too rare spectators of the 2021 Monaco Historic Grand Prix, due to coronavirus. Jean Alesi, for his first appearance at the event with a Ferrari 312 ex-Niki Lauda of 1974, had lost none of his sense of attack.

Unfortunately, his duel with the Lotus 77 of Marco Werner ended in the wall two laps from the end. The three-time winner of 24 Hours of Le Mans with Audi was found guilty of the collision by the stewards, who relegated him to the last step of the podium.

With his head rested, Jean Alesi explained the chronology of events to AUTOhebdo. According to him, his opponent did not approach the event in the appropriate state of mind. « It was a “show race” organized in a wonderful way by the Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM). It's a real chance to bring these cars to this circuit and retrace the history of the F1. This requires the greatest respect from the pilots,” declares the winner of the 1995 Canadian Grand Prix.

“But Werner hit me two or three times before this accident! He did not fit into this philosophy of respect. Of course we talked. The first thing he said to me was, “You missed a gear shift.” (at the exit of the Anthony Noguès bend. Editor’s note). No, I don’t miss my speeds”, he denies.

“Plus, I was driving in “show mode.” I didn't have the knife between my teeth. He should have waited for latecomers to overtake me, or for braking. But you don't stick a car that close in the recovery phase. »

The fifteen laps completed at high speed highlighted two different qualities between the Lotus with V8 Cosworth engine and the Ferrari. « My engine was less powerful at low revs. With my V12, I was forced to negotiate tight corners in first gear. When I was passing second gear, he was getting dangerously close. »

Despite the shattering outcome of this duel, Jean Alesi has taken a liking to this historical universe. “It was only supposed to be a one-off participation. But if the ACM allows it, I will self-invite for next year ! "