202-race driver says Michael Schumacher didn’t want him to retire when he left Formula 1

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The beginning of the 2000s in Formula 1 was dominated by one man: Michael Schumacher.

After winning his maiden F1 title with Benetton, Ferrari decided to sign Michael Schumacher and after several years of acclimatising to the Italian team – after suffering a major injury in 1999 – he won five titles on the bounce with the Scuderia.

During that time, Schumacher watched some of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport come and go.

His final season with Ferrari saw him share the grid with the likes of Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, David Coulthard and Jacques Villeneuve.

Schumacher called Mika Hakkinen his greatest-ever rival but he had long retired before the German hung up his racing gloves for the first time.

However, several more underrated drivers departed during this period of the sport who didn’t always get the credit they deserved.

In an interview with NextGen-Auto, former French driver Jean Alesi was speaking about how his time in the sport came to an end.

Alesi entered 202 F1 Grand Prix after making his debut in 1989 and was considered one of the most promising talents of his generation.

While he never quite lived up to some of the expectations on him, Alesi had a big fan on the grid in Schumacher.

So much so, that when Alesi told him that he would be leaving the sport at the end of the 2001 season, Schumacher admitted that he would have found a way to keep him on the grid if it was up to him.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

Michael Schumacher never wanted Jean Alesi to retire from Formula 1

Speaking about how he discovered he would be losing his seat at the end of 2001, Alesi said: “To be honest, the relationship between Alain and Peugeot killed the team – that was the biggest problem. There was a war between Alain and Peugeot, and it didn’t work.

“I was in the middle of it, and I had to leave for Eddie [Alesi left Prost for Jordan in 2001], but it was nice to finish my F1 career with Eddie.

“From the moment Eddie needed a driver, Alain was happy to let me go because he couldn’t carry on like that.

“I moved to Jordan and Eddie was very clear with me, and that’s why I retired at 37… He said to me: ‘I’ve already signed a contract with Giancarlo Fisichella [for 2002], but if Honda forces me to have the Japanese driver, I can’t sign you to continue’.

“In Japan, when they made the announcement, I was a bit sad and tired of fighting and surviving.

“I was at a press conference – because Bridgestone always organised a press conference in Tokyo – and they had a few riders.

“Michael was with me, as was Barrichello, and when the Japanese press asked me: “Takuma Sato has signed, what are you going to do? I replied: “I’m leaving”. Michael looked at me and said, ‘ Gosh, I would have found a way to let you carry on’.”

Jean Alesi’s Formula 1 career

Alesi won the 1989 International Formula 3000 series with Eddie Jordan’s team alongside making his F1 debut that year with Tyrrell.

He only took part in eight races, but finished 4^th on his debut at the French Grand Prix and finished above the likes of Derek Warwick, Eddie Cheever and Martin Brundle that season.

Alesi then earned a move to Ferrari in 1991 and spent five years with the Italian team, winning his only Formula 1 race during his final campaign racing in red at the 1995 Canadian Grand Prix.

It was the only win Ferrari achieved that year and Alesi shared the podium with Jordan pair Rubens Barrichello and Eddie Irvine after a dominant Schumacher suffered a late electrical problem.

Spells at Benetton, Sauber, Prost and Jordan followed before retiring after the 2001 Japanese Grand Prix.

It was Schumacher who won the Frenchman’s final race in F1 before he raced in DTM and Le Mans.

Alesi had a habit of getting himself into trouble during Grand Prix but there was nothing he could do to avoid a collision at Suzuka.

Raikkonen spun in front of him after his rear suspension failed and Alesi could do nothing to avoid him, having a huge crash that ended both of their races.

The 60-year-old is still involved in Formula 1 now appearing on French television and Alesi recently sent Jack Doohan a message as he fights for a place on the grid next season.