» Former F1 racer released from jail

Ex-F1 driver JJ Lehto has been released from his Finnish prison after successfully appealing the guilty verdict relating to a 2010 boating accident that led to the death of his friend.

Lehto was originally sentenced to a 28-month jail term after being ruled to have been at the controls of a boat which crashed into a bridge pylon at high speed. The accident killed the boat’s other occupant, while police arrested an intoxicated Lehto and successfully prosecuted him for causing the accident on the basis that he was at the controls of the craft.

After being found guilty almost a year ago, the 46-year-old has managed to successfully appeal the case, arguing that there was no proof he was at the wheel at the time of the crash. He has now been released from prison.

Lehto drove for four teams over a six-season F1 career that spanned between 1989-94, racing for the Onyx/Monteverdi concerns before driving for the likes of Dallara, Sauber and Benetton. His best finish was a podium earned at the rain-hit 1991 San Marino Grad Prix.

It looks like we’ll have now have to update out ‘Top-10 F1 Felons’ feature article…