Grapevine: Alesi to Help Young French Drivers

Former Formula One driver Jean Alesi will join up with the Federation Francaise du Sport Automobile as part of a new programme to unearth future French talent.

Alesi, who now competes in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM), will be part of selection council and management team with the aim of finding sponsors to back French drivers on their quest for stardom.

"I will give my ideas to the FFSA so that they will be able to help find sponsors to finance six or seven young drivers," Alesi, who left Olivier Panis as the sole Frenchman in Formula One, told L'Equipe. "It is true, I can do this now because I have more time than before. That really pleases me.

"I have seen currently that some F1 drivers do not deserve places as much as certain French drivers. I want them to succeed and hopefully with this our young drivers can have some luck. I have remained friends with a lot of people in F1.

"And, it is true, it is easy for me to help a young driver by going directly to see people like Ron Dennis or Frank Williams."