Jean Alesi reflects on his singular grand prix victory

It is difficult to imagine, but Jean Alesi—a man so frequently seen on the podium during his five seasons with Ferrari—truly had to wait until his 31st birthday to claim his first and only Formula 1 victory. At the 1995 Canadian Grand Prix, the Frenchman was so focused that he did not even realize he was leading the race at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve until he spotted the fans cheering for him from the grandstands.

That moment of realization is still hard to fathom. Benefiting from the mechanical problems suffered by Michael Schumacher, Alesi eventually took the chequered flag, even marking the occasion with a surreal lap of honour on the back of the German driver’s car. It was a beautiful, singular high point in a 13-season career that also saw him inspire Eddie Jordan to establish his own team.

Speaking with host Tom Clarkson, Alesi discusses the surreal celebrations that followed, including a trip to the Vatican in Rome. Looking back, he addresses the lingering question of whether having only one win to his name causes him frustration after such a long tenure in the sport.