Jean Alesi

1. Who is he?

Jean Alesi is a French driver, born June 11, 1964 in Avignon and was a Formula 1 driver between 1989 and 2001.

2. Junior course

Jean Alesi was born to Sicilian parents and was named “Giovanni” until he was 16. He got closer to the automotive world by lending a hand to his father, a mechanic and amateur rally driver, then entered the Renault single-make cups. It was rather in Formula 3 that he distinguished himself, winning the French Championship in 1987. The F 3000 was the next step but it proved too high, at least initially. On his second attempt, in Eddie Jordan's team, he won the prestigious 1989 Pau Grand Prix, which allowed him to obtain the seat of a Michele Alboreto on bad terms with his sponsors at the Grand Prix. of France at Paul-Ricard in the summer of 1989.

3. F1 journey

Indeed, Ken Tyrrell asked his friend Eddie Jordan to “lend” him Jean Alesi for this race. This is the revelation. The one who acquired the nickname “Jean d’Avignon” impressed in the race. Starting 16th, he moved up to second place before finishing just off the podium! Tyrrell is keeping him in his ranks for the end of the season because he knows he has found the rare gem. Again at the start of the 1990 season. In the streets of Phoenix, Jean Alesi fought without complexes with Ayrton Senna (McLaren). The Habs lost the battle, but won the hearts of the supporters with their flamboyant leadership. Once again runner-up in Monaco, he faced a problem of the rich for 1991: Williams-Renault and Ferrari were courting him. His love for the Prancing Horse will decide his fate for the next five years. Alas, the idyll quickly turns sour. The Scuderia is entering a period of scarcity, one of the worst in its history. Jean Alesi fights like hell, without success. A few good performances counterbalance a mountain of retirements (41 from 1991 to 1995), most of the time due to mechanical breakdowns. His last year of contract with the Maranello house, however, allows him to seek the Holy Grail: winning a Grand Prix for Ferrari. A feat achieved in Montreal (Canada), on the demanding Gilles-Villeneuve route. Jean Alesi exchanges his seat with double world champion Michael Schumacher for 1996. Unfortunately, Benetton simultaneously begins its decline. The team managed by Flavo Briatore does not give “Jeannot” confidence, even if the Frenchman achieves his best final rankings (twice 4th). So he will seek more serenity from the Swiss Sauber. The mid-pack team did not offer him an exceptional machine, barely enough to score his 32nd and last podium under the deluge of Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) in 1998. For the transition to the year 2000, Jean Alesi signed with his compatriot and former teammate at Ferrari, Alain Prost. The tandem has everything to make the French dream, but the Blues are failing. Not a point is scored. In 2001, the Peugeot engine was replaced by a Ferrari V10 block, rebadged as Acer, but relations with the four-time world champion became execrable. Jean Alesi receives a letter from his boss, who only moderately appreciates his outings in the press against the level of Prost Grand Prix. He found refuge with… Jordan for the last rounds and hung up his helmet after 201 GPs contested. A conversion to DTM with Mercedes will bring him four additional winners' trophies. Since 2012, he has overseen the career of his son Giuliano Alesi.

4. AUTOhebdo’s opinion

Jean Alesi leaves no one indifferent. Either we adore him, like the Japanese or Italian supporters, or we like to tackle him, like certain French gloomy minds. Jean Alesi, however, has a quality that has become rare in this elite sport: authenticity and total commitment, whether behind the wheel or in the media.

Jean Alesi's results in F1

Highlights of Jean Alesi's career

AUTO - F1 1998 - BELGIUM - SPA - PHOTO: GILLES LEVENT / DPPI JEAN ALESI / SAUBER PETRONAS - ACTION BELGIUM # 00000577_036

AUTO - F1 1990 - USA GP - PHOENIX - PHOTO: GILLES LEVENT / DPPI AYRTON SENNA (BRA) / MCLAREN MP4/5B HONDA - ACTION - WINNER JEAN ALESI (FRA) / TYRRELL 018 FORD COSWORTH - ACTION OVERTAKING SELECTION

27 Alesi Jean (fra), Scuderia Ferrari, Ferrari 412T2, celebrates his first win in F1, action during the Canadian Grand Prix, 6th round of the 1995 FIA Formula 1 season, on the circuit Gilles Villeneuve, in Montreal, Canada from June 09 to 11, 1995 - Photo DPPI