The court acquitted former Formula 1 driver Alesi in the case of an explosion in an architectural bureau

Former Formula 1 driver Jean Alesi has been acquitted by the criminal court in the French city of Nimes in the case of an explosion in an architectural office, according to Le Parisien.

The incident occurred in December 2021 in the town of Villeneuve-les-Avignon. Alarmed by the loud noise, the residents called the police, who were able to determine that the car that was near the scene belonged to Alesi’s brother José. The next day, Jean Alesi went to the police station, where he tried to justify his brother, explaining that it was he who was in the car with his son and another person, and that he himself “put fireworks bought in Italy in the window frame of his son-in-law’s architectural office” .

The ex-pilot and his 23-year-old son were again subpoenaed “for damaging other people’s property with means dangerous to people.”

On Thursday, at a court hearing, Alesi fully admitted his guilt.

“I apologize because there has never been such an awkward situation in my life. This is nonsense, he said.

“There is a family tradition of blowing firecrackers when you are happy, and Jean Alesi was immensely happy that evening when he met his son after several months of separation due to the pandemic,” explained his lawyer, Thibault de Montbrial.

The prosecutor considered this a “bad joke” and noted that Alesi reimbursed the victim for the costs incurred. The court noted “the absence of an element of intent” to commit the crime and acquitted Alesi and his son.

Alesi spent 13 seasons in Formula One, 32 podium finishes, and won the 1995 Canadian Grand Prix.