When Jean Alesi entered Formula 1 in the middle of 1989 with Tyrrell, he sought three-time world champion Nelson Piquet’s counsel over what he needed to do to look more professional, so he’d fit in with the F1 paddock. “Get a briefcase,” was Piquet’s sage advice, to which Jean replied: “But I don’t have anything to put in it.”
Fast forward to the following season, and his heroic feats with the tiny Tyrrell team earned interest from Ferrari, Williams and McLaren. In fact, Alesi had no fewer than four signed driver contracts in his possession in the summer of 1990. “At last!” he exclaimed. “I had something to put in my briefcase!”
