Former Formula One driver Nannini indicted for fraud

Alessandro Nannini was a fairly successful Formula One driver in the 1980s. In 1989 he managed to win the Grand Prix of Japan with Benetton. The Italian has since sunk deep and is being sued for fraudulent bankruptcy.

The F1 career of Nannini

Nannini made his debut in Formula 1 with Minardi in 1986. He drove two seasons for the rearguard team, but failed to score any points. When he switched to Benetton in 1988 things went a lot better. At the second Grand Prix of the season he scored his first point and in Great Britain and Spain he was on the podium. He experiences his best season in 1989. Nannini wins in Japan and eventually finishes sixth in the championship.

In the 1990 season, the Italian again manages to score a few podiums and negotiates with Ferrari for a seat for 1991. Nannini eventually rejects the switch because he considers a one-year contract insufficient. A helicopter accident at the end of 1990 ended Nannini's Formula 1 career prematurely.

Nannini sued for fraudulent bankruptcy

After the accident, Nannini goes to work for the family business Pasticcerie Nannini, but it does not end up being a success. On Valentine's Day 2019, the company goes bankrupt. According to the Italian Public Prosecutor's Office, this is a fraudulent bankruptcy, reports the Italian newspaper La Repubblica. Indeed, the now 62-year-old Nannini is said to have failed to pay taxes for years and to have accumulated a debt of 1.2 million euros. These accusations are supported by the disappearance of the company's accounts. Nannini will have to answer to a judge in May.