French drivers in F1 – Jean Alesi

Indeed Jean Alesi did not have Gallic but Sicilian ancestors, which did not prevent him from making France shine in Formula 1. With a diabolical skill, as evidenced by his performances on city circuits or in the rain, he may have lacked composure on certain occasions, but his sense of attack made him an unforgettable driver, 32 podiums in 201 participations constituting solid references. His only victory, in Canada in 1995, at the wheel of a Ferrari moreover, does not pay tribute to the talent of a pilot who would have won five or six more successes if his mechanics had not betrayed him while he was leading the dance.

For the Alesis, racing has always been a family affair. After seeing his father shine in rally and in hill racing, Jean competes in two seasons of karting before placing 7th in the R5 Cup in 1983. The same year, he was an unfortunate finalist in the Volant Marlboro and the Volant Elf at Paul-Ricard. Two seasons in Formula follow Renault on a Martini prepared in the family body shop. In 1985, he finished 5th in the French championship with five podiums. There is nothing yet to see him as a future F1 star, but everything changes when he moves to F3. Son coup de génie est de commander une Dallara, ce que personne n’a encore fait en France. La voiture italienne se révèle très compétitive et il termine vice-champion avec deux victoires en fin d