Jean Alesi, a former Formula 1 driver, was stopped in Avignon, where he was overheard by the police for detonating a large firecracker against the window of his brother-in-law's office.

"Jean Alesi was arrested on Monday around 4pm for damaging the property of others with an explosive device," said Nîmes deputy prosecutor, Antoine Wolff.

The events took place in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, the city of Gard where the 57-year-old former Ferrari driver lives. The police had been called on Sunday around 10 pm by the residents of the neighborhood, worried by the sound of an explosion. Thanks to the registration number recorded by a neighbor, the police were able to ascertain that the vehicle seen on the spot, before leaving with the lights out, belonged to José Alesi, brother of the former driver, who was arrested. Yesterday, however, the former Maranello driver went to the police station, where he cleared his brother by explaining that he was in the car, with his son and a friend of the latter and that he himself had put in a "big fire purchased in Italy "in the frame of a window in his brother-in-law's office as an architect," without imagining causing such damage, "explained the deputy prosecutor.

Jean Alesi explained that he just wanted to play a "bad joke" on his brother-in-law, who is separating from his sister, ensuring that he is not in controversy with him.

(Unioneonline / vl)