69 years for the 'Professor'
Many remember his career in Formula 1 for his driving talent mixed with great strategic skills, the same ones that earned him the nickname 'Professor' And four world titles. Many others, however, for its history rivalry with Ayrton Senna, still considered one of the most fascinating (if not the most beautiful ever) in the history of the Circus. All this responds to the name of Alain Prostwhich takes place today, February 24, 2024 69 years old.
The beginnings between McLaren and Renault
Born in France in 1955 to a family of Armenian origins, Prost made his debut in Formula 1 with the McLaren in 1980, however failing to obtain a better result than 5th place. The turning point, however, came the following year with the transition to Renaulta compatriot team with which he won his first of 51 career GPs in France, then repeating itself in Zandvoort and Imola in the only edition of the Italian GP not held in Monza. Author of two more successes at the start of the season in 1982, Prost entered into a crisis with his teammate René Arnoux, but launched himself into the title race in 1983. A success that did not materialize due to Nelson Piquet's comeback in the world championship standings , who overtook the Frenchman with the Brabham-BMW and became champion himself.
The first world titles
A disappointment that pushed Prost to return to McLaren in 1984, only to experience a second prank: in the Monaco GP, in which all the talent of his future rival Senna emerged on Toleman, the race was interrupted due to excessive rain falling on the Principality , a fact that halved the points awarded to the drivers according to the regulations. An episode which, however, proved to be decisive for the world championship, which was won by his teammate Niki Lauda half a point ahead, which still today represents the smallest gap ever between the first two riders in the general classification. The dreams that vanished in the first half of the '80s were however realized in the two-year period 1985-1986when Prost, still at the wheel of McLaren, managed to conquer the first two world titlesthe. In the first case he got the better of Alboreto's Ferrari, who had to deal with a drop in reliability in the second part of the season, while in 1986 he managed to take advantage of the misfortune of Nigel Mansell, who in the last race in Adelaide had to retire due to the blowout of a tire when victory seemed to be within reach. The title defense failed in 1987, however, with McLaren returning for 1988 with a new line-up.
The rivalry with Senna
Signed by Lotus, the Woking team lined up Ayrton Senna alongside the transalpine, the two immediately had their first disagreements in a season in which the formidable McLaren-Honda MP4/4 won all the races except one, in Monza. At the end of the season it was the Brazilian who won his first world title, but the highest level of contrasts between the two was reached between 1989 and 1990. Having reached the end of the penultimate GP of 1989 in Japan in the midst of the fight for the world championship, Prost and Senna were the protagonists of a contact at the last chicane of Suzuka. While Prost retired, the Brazilian returned to the track, winning the race, but was disqualified for having returned to the track by cutting the chicane and for having been helped by the stewards. Prost thus became world champion in a climate of strong controversy, to the point of leaving McLaren to join Ferrari in 1990.
The disappointment in Ferrari and the sabbatical
However, the arrival in the Red team did not stop the rivalry with Senna. Author of the 100th GP won by Ferrari in F1, the two drivers returned again to Suzuka with the title still up for grabs. However, immediately after the start, it was the McLaren driver a hit the Frenchman at the first corner, with the withdrawal of both which allowed 'Magic' to become mathematical champion. The 'Professor's' desire for revenge for 1991 was appeased by Ferrari's lack of competitiveness, with Prost himself comparing it, at the end of the year, to 'truck'. A statement which put an end to the adventure in Maranello and which pushed the Frenchman to take a sabbatical for 1992.
The latest title and builder's adventure
Returned with the Williams in 1993, Prost exploited the potential of the Grove team to secure the fourth and final world title, retiring from F1 with a memorable handshake and sharing the top step of the podium in Adelaide with Senna, who won the race on that occasion. Four world titles, 51 victories, 106 podiums and 33 pole positions. Numbers of a champion who did not have the same luck as an entrepreneur, when in 1997 he took over Ligier to found a team. Remaining in F1 until 2001, the team did not achieve any success, achieving only 3 podiums and a 6th place in the Constructors' standings as its best result.
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