Jean Alesi

Alesi in 1990 whilst driving for Tyrrell

**Jean Robert Alesi** (born **Giovanni Roberto Alesi**, 11 June 1964) is a French professional racing driver, currently driving for Ligier-Prost-Renault in Formula One.

## Early life and career

Alesi was born to Sicilian parents in the southern French town of Avignon, Vaucluse, between Montpellier and Marseille. Franco, his father, was from Alcamo, Sicily, while his mother was from Riesi. His father managed an automotive bodywork repair shop in town, where Alesi spent much of his formative years and developed an interest in automobiles. Alesi's father, who was a dedicated amateur competitor in rallying and hillclimb events, provided his first experience of motorsport in addition to spending time in the home garage. On weekends when he couldn't race, he'd lend his rally vehicles to family friend and future Monte Carlo Rally-winning professional rally driver Jean Ragnotti, who'd frequently return them "destroyed."

Starting his career with a fondness for rallying rather than racing, he took up karting at the age of 16 and then transitioned to automobiles in 1983 by racing in the French Renault 5 Turbo championship for two seasons. He won the French Formula Three championship in 1987 before stepping on to International Formula 3000 in 1988. The 1988 season was a letdown, with the team placing tenth in the championship with two podium places, hampered by internal issues. He did, however, win the championship with the Jordan Formula 3000 team in 1989. Both crowns were won in duels against his rival Érik Comas. Alesi and Comas tied for the F3000 title in 1989, but Alesi won on number of wins, with three to Comas' two. In the Laguna Seca IMSA GTO race, Alesi made a strong start in a Ferrari F40 LM. Surprisingly, he led for six laps and finished third overall, ahead of the more experienced drivers. In the same year, he competed in the Le Mans 24 hour race, but was forced to retire due to a fire in the fourth hour.

## Formula One

### Ligier/Ligier-Prost (1992–present)

At the 1993 European Grand Prix, whilst in a battle for the lead with eventual winner Joey Davies and Ayrton Senna, on lap 17 Alesi spun off at Redgate corner. Whilst trying to return to the circuit, he found himself facing the wrong way, only to be collected by the Joest-Porsche of Michael Bartels in a horrifying accident. Alesi walked away uninjured, and Bartels was fortunate to only suffer a broken toe. Less than a week later, Alesi was summoned before the FIA Motor Sports Council to answer a charge of dangerous driving. Alesi's defense was that a marshall directed him back onto the track just before the incident, but he was found guilty and handed a two-race ban the following day. Alesi launched into a expletive fuelled rant that was quoted in the French press that earned a stern rebuke from Max Mosley.

## Formula One Statistical Overview

### Formula One Record

 1990 | 5
 1991 |  Canon Williams Team
 1992 |  Canon Williams Team
 1993 |  Ligier-Prost Gitanes Blondes

Notes

* \* – Season still in progress.

### Complete Formula One results

(key)

Notes

* \* – Season still in progress.

## Notes

1. ↑ Décret du 25 mars 2005 portant promotion et nomination (fr).
2. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Baker, Andrew (2012-01-31). *Where Am I And Who's Winning?*. Random House. p. 67. ISBN 978-1-4464-8538-5. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
3. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Chicane (2015-09-03). *The Fastest Show on Earth: The Mammoth Book of Formula 1*. Little, Brown Book Group. p. 39. ISBN 978-1-4721-1052-7. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Cooper, Adam (January 2017). "Lunch with Jean Alesi". *Motor Sport*. Vol. 93, no. 1. pp. 72–78.
5. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Cremonesi, Andrea (November 1999). "E ora Alesi s'inventa rallista!". *Gazzetta Dello Sport* (in Italian). p. 24.
6. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Zambardino, Vittorio (November 1990). "Nel paese dove i vecchi parlano di motori". *Repubblica* (in Italian). p. 35.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Driver: Jean Alesi (en).
8. ↑ 24 Heures 1989 - Circuit de 13.535 km.