Alain Prost

Interesting facts

Nicknamed 'The Professor' for his cerebral style, Prost's philosophy was to win 'as slowly as possible,' nursing tyres and brakes for a late charge. He deliberately modelled his smooth driving on Jackie Stewart and Jim Clark; Stewart called it 'artistry' next to flashier rivals. At Suzuka in 1989 he refused to leave Senna a gap into the chicane; the resulting collision got Senna disqualified and handed Prost the title. A year later at the same corner, Senna admitted he deliberately rammed him at the start, avenging 1989 and taking the title as Prost retired on the spot. At Williams he negotiated a clause barring Senna from joining the team, prompting Senna to call him a coward and Brazilian fans to grow so hostile that Prost needed police protection. On the podium at his farewell race in Adelaide 1993, Senna, who had snubbed a handshake the race before, embraced him unexpectedly. After retiring he founded his own team, Prost Grand Prix, and later worked as a Renault/Alpine adviser and Formula E team owner. Despite their rivalry he was a pallbearer at Senna's funeral in 1994, saying afterwards that 'a part of himself had died too.' Alain Prost raced in Formula 1 from 1980 to 1993, across 13 seasons as a French driver. He won the World Championship 4 times, in 1985, 1986, 1989, 1993. He scored a total of 768.5 championship points over his career.