“A lot of emotions for me”- Emotional Alesi snr. on his son’s participation in Ferrari’s test; clarifies academy exit

“A lot of emotions for me”- Alesi Snr. on his son’s inclusion in Ferrari’s test at Fiorana while also clarified what led to his academy exit.

In 2020, Jean Alesi revealed that his son Giuliano Alesi could not further continue his pursuit for a motorsport career in F1 due to the scarcity of funds. He had even paid for it by selling his car.

Coming forward to the first month of 2021, Giuliano was one of the Ferrari’s academy prospects, to be called for the SF71H testing at Fiorano and reflecting on it, his father Alesi Snr. was overwhelmed after his son took number 28 which was used by former in his prime days.

“It came as a surprise to me, I cannot believe he looked into the details like that,” said Alesi to the Motorsport.com, of his son’s decision to run with the number 28 on the car.

“I believe I first tested in November 1990, the 15th my fan club tells me, so it is amazing to think that he drove the car with my number 30 years later.

“It was great to see him in a Ferrari – a lot of emotions for me! It was also a feeling of responsibility of not making a mistake as he was the first to go out, and everything was very cold, and others were to drive the car.

“It was not easy for him, but everything went fantastically well, and I felt good for him.”

Why left FDA and now what’s in future

Alesi Snr. further revealed that Giuliano’s time at Ferrari’s academy is over. Still, something will remain “It’s the end for him with the Academy, yes, but not with Ferrari – it is still our family,” he said. “That has been very clear from Ferrari.”

He also talked about his son leaving for Japan to ply his trade in Japan, where apparently according to him meritocracy is dominant and not your pockets.

“If you look in our part of the world in Europe, nothing is a meritocracy,” said Alesi Snr. “You just need to pay and pay and pay. I think that’s crazy, and it’s the only sport in the world where you have to pay to make your show. I think in Japan it seems much fairer.”

About the author

Tanish Chachra

Tanish Chachra is the Motorsport editor at The SportsRush. He saw his first race when F1 visited India in 2011, and since then, his romance with the sport has been seasonal until he took up this role in 2020. Reigniting F1's coverage on this site, Tanish has fallen in love with the sport all over again. He loves Kimi Raikkonen and sees a future world champion in Oscar Piastri. Away from us, he loves to snuggle inside his books.

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