Jean Alesi explained why he was arrested a few days ago, saying that it was all just a prank gone wrong.
Alesi, his son and his friend were all taken into custody for being involved in an incident. They were responsible for a firecracker exploding at Alesi’s brother-in-law’s office and causing damage. They will face a date in court in due time.
The former Ferrari driver spent a day in prison before being released. He is still very much involved in the case, but he has been let off for now.
Alesi explained why he was arrested a few days ago and said that he never imagined the incident would balloon to this level.
“It was just a joke. I never imagined a firecracker could cause all this,” he told Corriere della Sera.
“It all seems disproportionate to me. I had bought this firecracker in Italy at a service station near Ventimiglia, we were in the car with friends and we said ‘let’s try it’.
“So I threw it in front of this architect’s office, but I didn’t expect it to make such a bang. I wasn’t angry with my sister’s ex-partner, we’ve always been on very good terms.
“I was the one who went to the police the next day to clarify things. I immediately said I would pay it all back. Throwing it at that very spot was an accident.”
Trip to the station
“They kept me in the police station for 24 hours,” he continued.
“First I was locked in a room by order of the magistrate, then the policemen freed me – they did not understand why there was so much fury towards me. And in the police station we had a fantastic evening before being released.
“We talked to the guards about Formula 1, they were passionate about it. We talked about old races, old anecdotes, the silly things we did when we were young and then we talked about this incredible World Championship won by Max Verstappen.
“Now I will spend New Year’s Eve on the Cote d’Azur but without setting off any firecrackers – don’t mention them to me anymore. I’m done with firecrackers!”
Read more: Alesi slams Hamilton and Verstappen for crash at Monza – “They went too far there”