Alessandro Nannini | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 July 1959 Siena, Italy |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  Italian |
| Active years | 1986–1990 |
| Teams | Minardi, Benetton |
| Entries | 78 (76 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 1 |
| Podiums | 9 |
| Career points | 65 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 2 |
| First entry | 1986 Brazilian Grand Prix |
| First win | 1989 Japanese Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1990 Spanish Grand Prix |
Alessandro "Sandro" Nannini (born 7 July 1959) is an Italian former racing driver, who competed in Formula One from 1986 to 1990. Nannini won the 1989 Japanese Grand Prix with Benetton.
Born in Siena, Nannini is the younger brother of musician Gianna Nannini. He began his career rallying in a Lancia Stratos before switching to open-wheel racing in 1981. The following year, he started competing for Minardi in European Formula Two, where he remained for three seasons. Nannini also made appearances in the World Sportscar Championship for Martini, winning the 1000km of Kyalami in 1984 and entering three editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He was granted an FIA Super License in 1986—having been controversially denied one the year prior—and made his Formula One debut at the Brazilian Grand Prix with Minardi. After 26 retirements in 30 starts across two seasons at Minardi, Nannini joined Benetton to partner Thierry Boutsen. He retained his seat in 1989 after scoring podiums at the British and Spanish Grands Prix. Nannini took his only victory in Formula One at the Japanese Grand Prix, inheriting the win from Ayrton Senna following his infamous disqualification. Several podiums followed in 1990 as he was partnered by Nelson Piquet, including a second-placed finish at the German Grand Prix.
In October 1990, Nannini severed his right forearm in a helicopter accident at his vineyard in Siena, ending his Formula One career with one win, two fastest laps and nine podiums. He returned to racing in 1993, competing in four seasons of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft—later known as the International Touring Car Championship—with Alfa Corse, finishing third in the 1996 standings. Nannini became a race-winner in the 1997 FIA GT Championship with Mercedes, before retiring at the end of the year.