Jean Alesi great interview

Thanks for posting!

 

Thanks for sharing !

Phoenix: V8 versus V10 - and Pirelli made tyres that lasted an entire race

 

Thanks for posting!

 

Alesi is such an effortlessly classy guy

 

+27
One the fastest and classiest guys in F1.

 

I was at the 1990 Phoenix race, lucky enough to be a guest of Ojjeh and watch from the Mclaren hospitality suite atop the pit garages. Alesi was impressive against Senna. That start seemed extra loud with the sound echoing off the canyon of buildings.

 

Was waiting for the Stefano Modena story....

 

Yeah ?

Why did he win only one GP then ?

 

You have to be classy to win in F1 ? Being one of the fastest would result in routine wins?

I think the same could apply to Amon and Gurnay among the many.

 

Alesi drove the most convincingly when he was at Tyrrell.

After that, he joined Ferrari when he had a contract with Williams.
Williams went on to dominate F1 for the next 5 years, whilst Ferrari had one of his lean period.

Then Alesi left Ferrari to join Benetton when there was a massive exodus from the Benetton team to the Scuderia, including the technical team and the driver: Ross Brawn, RoryByrne and a certain Michael Schumacher !!!!

After that Sauber, Prost and Jordan where he just go no result.

Apart from the occasional quick lap, it's very difficult to judge Alesi; he was mostly in the wrong car at the wrong time. I would put him in the same category as Berger, or Amon.

Gurney was more competitive, IMO, and got success in different series outside F1.

 

For the same dynamics that Moss never won a WDC - luck and timing.

If I need a getaway driver Alesi would be in my top 3. After the heist, conversation can be shared over a fine claret with a feisty, classy and intriguing character. Not many of those left in F1.

 

You are your own devil's best advocate. Dan won four times over his career in F1, nowhere near representing his level of talent, I would say the same for Jean, Chris , Gerard and Kubica. They all had the talent to win on a regular basis given the right equipment.

 

With the right car Alesi would have been at the top. Bad luck. Although he was a bit erratic sometimes. His ex-boss Joan Viladelprat said that each time they asked him to change a parameter in the steering wheel he lost one second and that probably he was born out of time: he was not suited to the complexities of modern F1.

 

Lean years would be an understatement. Every time he was leading or in contention the car would break down as I remember.

 

You have to admit that in most cases, being in the wrong team at the wrong time was their choice!

Amon made the wrong decision leaving Ferrari when it was becoming good again.

Alesi made a mistake choosing Ferrari instead of Williams.

etc...