While Alesi was seen as a talent of the future, his start as a Formula One driver was somewhat fortuitous. Prior to the 1989 French Grand Prix, Ken Tyrrell had signed a deal to run Camel cigarette sponsorship on his previously unsponsored cars. However this caused problems for Michele Alboreto who was personally sponsored by rival cigarette brand Marlboro. The sponsorship clash forced Tyrrell to release Alboreto and find another driver and Alesi was signed as his replacement (ironically, Alboreto lost his Marlboro sponsorship soon after and would end up driving for the Larrousse team who just happened to carry Camel sponsorship on their cars).