Ouch! Alesi spins vintage F1 Ferrari into Monaco barrier

Former Grand Prix driver Jean Alesi, who famously wore his heart on his sleeve during his Ferrari days, is back in the cockpit of a beautifully restored 1969 Ferrari 312 for this weekend’s Historic Monaco Grand Prix.

However, during Friday’s practice session, the Principality’s narrow streets reminded the rapid Frenchman that nostalgia still comes with consequences.

Approaching the Nouvelle Chicane, Alesi pushed the vintage Scuderia machine a little too enthusiastically for comfort. The rear stepped out, the barriers loomed in, and moments later the scarlet red icon had pirouetted into the unforgiving Armco with a sickening crunch.

Alesi quickly extricated himself from the cockpit – more shaken by pride than physics – as marshals rushed in to check on both man and machine, but thankfully, the damage told a more optimistic story than first feared.

And in a twist befitting the paddock’s most meticulous restorers on this weekend of vintage racing, the wounded Ferrari was rapidly entrusted to the skilled hands of Mathusalem Racing’s mechanics, who worked their magic to ensure the 312 lived to fight another day – hopefully with a bit more grip and a lot less wall.

N’est-ce pas, Jean?