Jean Alesi, the passionate Frenchman in the red Ferrari, was once seen as a future Formula 1 world champion due to his fearless driving style reminiscent of Gilles Villeneuve. Despite early promise, especially highlighted in Phoenix 1990 when he challenged Ayrton Senna, Alesi’s career did not unfold as expected. Joining Ferrari during a transition period, Alesi failed to achieve the anticipated success, leaving him with just one grand prix victory by the end of his career in 2001. Many wonder what could have been different if he had joined Williams instead of Ferrari during the early ’90s.
Comparisons have been drawn between Alesi’s career trajectory and that of Charles Leclerc, the 27-year-old Monegasque driver currently facing challenges at Ferrari. Leclerc’s recent struggles, particularly at Silverstone, have raised concerns within the team as he grapples with being outperformed, even by Lewis Hamilton. Silverstone marked a potential turning point in Ferrari’s internal dynamics, hinting at a significant shift in the team’s performance hierarchy. As Leclerc navigates these hurdles, the parallels to Alesi’s career serve as a cautionary tale in the competitive world of Formula 1.
