Alain Prost on racing, rivals and Senna | Beyond The Grid | Official F1 Podcast
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- čas přidán 8. 05. 2024
- The word legend is often bandied about in sports, but this week’s guest on Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, is truly worthy of the moniker. 25 years on from his fourth and final world title triumph, Tom Clarkson sat down with Prost to talk about his epic career, including, of course, that unique and multi-faceted relationship with Ayrton Senna…
Here are a few topics discussed in this week's episode:
3:40 - On Daniel Ricciardo and what he will bring to Renault
12:45 - On joining McLaren, racing Lauda and how he came to be known as The Professor
23:50 - On the various virtues of Piquet, Mansell, Rosberg and Lauda - his 1980s rivals
27:34 - On his rivalry with Senna and how he played a part in the Brazilian joining McLaren
33:00 - On when his relationship with Senna began to break down
35:45 - On whether he has regrets over his relationship with Senna and how it evolved over time
42:39 - On the uniqueness of racing for Williams and being team mate to Damon Hill
48:48 - On running his own F1 team
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Tom Clarkson was right. Alain Prost could well have been world champion 9 times over but it isn't just that which leads me to consider him the finest F1 champion of my time. It’s because he brought a level of worthiness to the title. You only have to listen to this interview or indeed any which he has done to appreciate that here is a driver who like the late and great Giles Villeneuve, had the value systems and principles of a bygone generation. A true hero that had no need of anyone's approbation, who put the interests of his team ahead of his own as when in 1987, he suggested to Mclaren and Honda to bring Senna on board. He did this because he felt that unlike Piquet whom Prost considered a friend and who Honda and Mclaren preferred to have, Senna he felt was younger and thus had more potential to give to the team. Alain Prost simply did what he was put on earth to do and did it with style and substance and did it while still being a thoroughly lovely person. Many journalists like Nigel Roebuck have testified to that. That is why for me, of all the world champions, he stands apart.
Well said. Totally agree. He is and will always be at least in my top 5. Brilliant one and a genuine nice and smart guy.
@@leampunkt3678 Thanks Lea. Appreciate your thoughts.
I look forward and enjoy being able to catch Alain Prost from time to time when he is interviewed in his capacity as an advisor to the Renault team.The late Niki Lauda who was most distracted by Prost because irrespective of what the great Austrian did, Alain was always half a second quicker than him, always had the most complimentary words reserved for the Frenchman. And we know of course that Keke Rosberg who was always correct about the way to do things, was happy to sacrifice his final race in Adelaide 1986, to help Prost to the title. Says a lot I think that someone would do that.
Best regards and stay safe.
@@Houston1863 Thank you so much! And absolutely right. Niki won in 1984 (with half a point ahead of Alain) and was later ask, who was the hardest guy to beat on the track. His answer was Alain Prost with no doubts about it and thats the greatest compliment.
Stay safe too!
Piquet himself said Honda preferred Senna due the job he did on Lotus in the preview year. Later on even Prost said it,the japanese were Senna's friends and admired him since Lotus and that was one of the problems he had to face on McLaren for 88 and 89 seasons.
Prost doesn’t get enough recognition, fantastic driver, both him and Ayrton were ruthless, but Ayrton named Alain to look after his charities in the even of his death, and Alain carried his coffin, they were rivals in sport but not enemies
Topics - From the description (also more usable for mobile platforms)
3:40 - On Daniel Ricciardo and what he will bring to Renault
12:45 - On joining McLaren, racing Lauda and how he came to be known as The Professor
23:50 - On the various virtues of Piquet, Mansell, Rosberg and Lauda - his 1980s rivals
27:34 - On his rivalry with Senna and how he played a part in the Brazilian joining McLaren
33:00 - On when his relationship with Senna began to break down
35:45 - On whether he has regrets over his relationship with Senna and how it evolved over time
42:39 - On the uniqueness of racing for Williams and being team mate to Damon Hill
48:48 - On running his own F1 team
Well done mate, cheers
Thank you!
Well done Scotty!
Evan Lathouras
Cheers Evan :)
Thanks
His battles with Senna are stuff of lore.
Senna and Prost will always be the most iconic F1 duo ever. Nobody else comes anywhere near close to these 2.
It is a shame he is being always addressed connected to Senna. Pros was a superb racer in his own right..We were able to “suffer” the great battles between two of the best drivers in the sae car.. My respect to Mr. Alain Prost. ( and I am a Senna fan).
He himself said their stories are connected and you can't mention one without the other. It isn't a shame, it was because of how amazing their story was that makes it so memorable
@@catlyst8563 I was about to say the same!! He said that he is okay with that and fully accepted this fact.
He probably tired to answer the questions about Senna, but he is polite. Why media interviewing Alain majority of the time talking about Senna?! Shame, one of the best F1 drives of all times still didn’t get the recognition and respect he deserved. Prost fought for the championship in every season from 1981 to 1986 straight! And from 1988 to 1990. He could be 8 times world campion. Liked his driving and totally understand his logic.
I fully agree, i am tired of hearing about Senna all the time. However, i also think that Prost was at his best during his rivalry with Senna.
I don’t see him getting tired of the senna questions/stories. He’s more than recognized by his peers as one of the best if not the best to ever do it. The rivalry he had with Senna just happened to be the biggest rivalry probably ever in sporting history. And listening to him talk about it, you can tell that it’s almost like a personal study of the human condition for him. Every time I hear him talk about it I feel he talks about those days with some affinity for them, and if anything the only thing I hear him get tired about is the way he was portrayed in the senna film. And I can’t blame him because that would annoy me too.
@@angelovargas3925 agreed 👍🏻
I could listen to Prost all day. What an intelligent man.
Never quite received the respect he deserves because too many people are still living in the past and being bitter about his rivalry with Ayrton. What a shame
Not as quick yes, but at least as good as Senna, one of the best ever, and the smartest driver ever seen in F1. Period.
@@bilingualilliterate5404 He was able to match Senna on speed if he really wanted but he didn't try on purpose because he never wanted to cross the limit, especially since Pironi crashed into him in 1982 at Hockenheim, being too aware of the risks When Ayrton made years to do it. So he concentrated on the race with the perfect set up and strategy.
Interesting stat : if Senna has 65 poles and Prost 33, Prost made 41 fastest laps on race (record at the time) and Senna only 19...
Senna on Saturday + Prost on Sunday = Lewis Hamilton
Both totally different drivers. Like everyone I used to like Aryton more, the more I know about racing n the more I know about their rivalry I like Alain more, he's a more complete driver.
It was a clash of different styles, which made it even more epic and passionate. I have my preference (Senna) but Prost's quality was and is undeniable.
@@davidwang8914 Hamilton drives in accurate and gripy cars.. Two times. Senna and Prost deserves the title of driver. Hamilton is just a playboy in a car.
This is the best podcast in the entire series!! Respect how methodical, disciplined and focused Mr. Prost is! I have already listened this episode twice and now this is my third time, and still I get excited when you discuss his rivalry with Ayrton Senna! I went back and watched his races and he did give Ayrton a hard time! He is definitely one of the best drivers in F1 if not the best !
Senna, Lauda, Piquet etc..Prost competed against the Best of the Best in F1 and won 4 titles. Just one of a kind, pure Legend.
One of the best drivers ever. The rivalry with Senna, Piquet and Mansell were epic.
Do Mika Hakkinen next
Yes, please
yes!
AND KEKE ROSBERG!
And Schumacher ow wait...
" *Incredibly long pause..... Yes."
Unfairly maligned, but one of the absolute greats. He stands alongside Fangio, Clark, Stewart and Lauda.
Agreed. The anglophonic press did not share a very sophisticated view of Alain's contribution or ability.
@@stephenwilson3804 Big moustache's syndrome 😁
People tend to forget that Prost outscored Senna in both of their seasons together (105 v 94 in 1988 and 81 v 60 in 1989). In 1988 Senna artificially won the title because back then the best 11 results from the 16 races counted towards the Drivers Championship even though all points counted towards the Constructors Championship.
Although he is a recognised legend of the sport I still always felt he was under-rated.........
I think it’s unfair to say that Senna artificially won the title given that was the rule at the time. A rule precisely to avoid what can now occur in the championship, that of the woes of reliability costing the better driver the title.
However, looking at that season, Prost’s consistency was ridiculous, getting 1st or 2nd in EVERY RACE he completed. You could argue that was the greatest season for any driver in the 60 years since we’ve had a world companionship if you look at just pure results.
Senna for instance had more wins but had less consistency, partly caused by reliability but also one costly mistake in Monaco.
There’s a case for either driver in that season being given the title, but with 13 poles and at least two extra wins which were likely, Senna probably did deserve the title he went on to claim.
I’m a Brazilian and I really admire Prost.
Reminder that Alain Prost beat Nelson Piquet, Niki Lauda (in the same car), Ayrton Senna (in the same car) and Nigel Mansell (in the same car), not to mention other good drivers like Rene Arnoux and young Schumi. He was miles ahead of everyone else in the 80s.
Senna is more liked mostly because:
1) his tragic end
2) he was much more charismatic
Yes Senna is more highly regarded because of the end and personality. Prost was better.
M. A. Nigel Mansell is racing in indycar at the time when he achieve 4th championships
He was slower than Senna but Senna would always drive too hard and break the car or crash. Prost was much more intelligent and that’s why Prost got more points than Senna in both 1988 and 1989
@@indranigomes9874 prost was faster a few years before the Senna partnership. He matured and drove more consistently.
I hope Prost can help Renault and Ricciardo into a future championship... I have faith!
This didn't agree well 😂
@@jdtrrs8186 REALLY didn't age well. Especially with his former team handing to him
Who could dislike this ?
Seriously guys you’re living in the past the Prost-Senna rivality was 20 years ago...
30 years now...
1990 was 30 years ago man
And?? It was in the middle of the best era of F1 and I'd rather hear Prost talking about F1 in the 1980's and his relationships with different drivers, team principals, what cars he thought were the best, what happened in 1989 and 1990 at Suzuka etc, than the boring snoozefest that F1 is today.
Notice how Prost says ricciardo has a nice personality? Prost is actually a humble and yet intelligent man. Ferrari leaders were not even half a year ago saying about Ricciardo how they don't like his personality... I was absolutely stunned and baffled by Ferrari's choice of words. Ferrari does NOT deserve Ricciardo.... I am very pleased he has taken his future at Renault and as history has proven Renault has many acomplishments despite hybrid era criticism at the beginning.
lmao ricciardo is finished already
To be fair to Ferrari, i think they didn't mean, that he (Ricciardo) has a bad personality or something. I think it's a PR decission, and they think that his image doesn't fit to Ferraris company image. Don't forget, F1 is marketing for them, to sell expensive sports cars to rich old man.
Ricciardo doesn’t fit Ferrari philosophy from a pr perspective as much as I’d love to see him in a Ferrari
Nice chat with Alain. Yes I was a Senna fan but over the years one gets a lot of respect for Alain
The GOAT by far, fair and square !
Thank you for this. Best "beyond the grid" so far. Very interesting from start to finish.
I respect this guy a lot. Yes he was a crying school kid as a driver. Remember how he fell out with Renault. BUT he was flipping brilliant. He's knowledge of F1 is second to none. I still believe he was the most complete driver in history. Made cars better with he's engineering mind.
did you know that in 83, brabham should have been DSQ, they were using a non allowed fuel that made other driver in trouble with their eyes. Some team complaint and renault said they didn't want to win out of track
Jackie Stewart was also a fantastic engineering mind.
@@amjan Another candidate for most underrated F1 legend. Stewart was awesome.
When I started watching F1, Alain was the nemesis to my small childhood heros. One of my favourite people to hear speak nowadays though
same here. I am from Brazil, so no need to say why since I was a child, when I looked at a photo of him I saw him like a vilain ahhaha today it is amazing to listen to him. One of the best interviews of behind the grid i've heard until now
As a child, I idolized Senna, and disliked Prost. As an adult I greatly admire Prost, his integrity, and his immense talent at going fast over the course of an entire race. I also now view Senna as a bit of a spoiled child.
Prost was a great driver and he fought (and often prevailed) against some of the best ever. He had real competition: Piquet, Lauda, Senna, Mansell and still won more than everyone else in that period. In a qualifying lap Senna could be faster (we could say he was the fastest pilot ever), but in race conditions Prost was second to none in terms of speed. You can find an interview of Joe Ramirez where he said that with a perfectly set up car 100% to his liking, Prost was unbeatable and faster than Senna BOTH in qualifying and race, while Senna was better at improvising and when a perfect set up couldn't be found, Senna said "just set up the car like Prost did" and then was able to adapt and to record the best time.
I am happy that in the end Prost and Senna found a way to make peace. We still miss you Alain.
Well said, Sir. Unfortunately, many "so called" fans of the Brazilian today still don't respect these "Paix des Braves" yet granted by Ayrton to Alain after the latter retired from race, and keep on ranting at what happened in Suzuka thirty years ago.
How, in the name of all things holy, can you say that in race conditions Prost was second to none in terms of speed? When both Mclarens finished a race during the 1988-89 period Senna beat Prost 14-5 and Prost never beat Senna on the road in 1989. Prost was better at getting the car home maybe, but Senna was the faster driver on Saturday and Sunday.
@@benitolonard4441 because Prost had a higher average finishing position in races compared to Senna
1988: Senna 2.43 Prost 1.5
1989: Senna 2.89 Prost 2.15
@@clubpenguin13531 I have no idea where you have gotten those figures but they are irrelevant. As I have said Prost was a tad better at getting the car home but those figures do not show speed.
Going by the results of the 1988-89 seasons, when both Mclarens finished without problems for either, Prost had a 1 in 4 chance of beating Senna. That certainly doesn't show Prost as the faster driver.
Best episode so far, and the best format by far. Personally I do not see why you do sometimes those "I pissed in my car questionnaire", when you could do material like this.
You are talking about two completely different people. Will Buxton does the Paddock Pass and the true or false thing you're talking about. The Beyond The Grid podcast is done by Tom Clarkson. Which it clearly says in the description.
Senna was always my favorite driver, and I admit to being one of those people with an axe to grind when it comes to Prost. But as i got older and learned more about my hero , I also learned more about his arch rival, and now I am less inclined to make excuses for Sennas behaviour sometimes.
Im glad their relationship turned good before Senna died, but even if it hadn't, I would have still have came to the same conclusion after learning so much about Prost over the years (and being old enough now to admit when im wrong). Prost was / IS a great world champion, and a fantastic guy in general.
Excellent interview, first time I listen to something without video on CZcams and loved it, thanks!
To me Alain Prost is the best ever, in fact it's easy to see when you look at the numbers and facts of how things happened, it's just honesty.
Good chat, nice to see a Prost interview that didn't consist only of Senna questions.
Boys... i was with my father in 1994 may 1. We were crazy in brazil for F1. I am a major supporter for senna as any brazilian would be back then. I find Alain Prost just as he is supposed to be. THE PROFESSOR. Thanks for allowing us brazilians to see spectablea just as beautiful as you made us. Thamks Alain
Respect Mr Prost.
the stuff about prost gp is great- a story that is rarely told and should be spoken about more in this current climate of f1
Until next time!!!!
What a great series, really amazing.
I always felt like I was the only one cheering for Alain, and everyone else was Senna.
I still stand by him. A true living legend and achieved so much with so little luck I'd say.
Niki Lauda Described his Half a Point Championship win against Prost to be the most difficult and fiercely fought Championship in his career. That says it all. Alain Prost is one of the all time Greats with Senna. And without either of them making their decisions, to be who they were...we wouldn't have enjoyed such an unparalleled and intense Rivalry. And the best part is, it did end in understanding and a special bond. That's the best part.
One of the best drivers in history and always in my top 5. Such a genuine nice and smart guy. He and Senna had the maybe best rivalry in history. But still, there was so much more about their relationship. Quite moving when he talked about Senna.
Incredible to think how close he was to winning championships with FOUR different constructors.
22:00 Those car sounds are making me anxious haha
Ghost drivers coming back
It is the spirit of Ayrton Senna communicating
Alain is the smoothest driver of all time and by far the most underrated
"You have to put everything on your side"....One of the best interviews. period. Prost is truly "The Professor". You could write a book from the things he says here.
The French Professor !!!
With a nice lil French accent
THE professor!
badoubade Yes you're right
The Professor shines!
Am so happy that he talked about they becoming friends, it was nice that they trusted each other because they got to know each other very well n their rivalry.
This is the one I have been waiting for!
These interviews are epic greatness. Thank you so much for providing this content to all of us the fans.
Awesome interview. Very revealing. Thank you so much! 🖖
I always wanted a podcast with Kimi. But this one is almost give the same feel. Feels legendary! like a dream came true.
As usual Alain is open, honest, I am fascinated by comment about Ayrton, "i know something I will never tell"
chunder27 There’s been very, very unsubstantiated rumors for years about a certain aspect of Ayrtons life away from the track. I’ve had a few Brazilians mention as such over the years when I’d tell them I follow F1 & was a huge Senna fan. I think even Nelson Piquet dropped a sly hint or two while they were both racing. I’ll not divulge the rumor as it’s just that, only a rumor & it may not even be the secret Alain was mentioning.
these are amazing. listening to legends. thanks for doing this F1.
15:50 amazing story of how he got his nickname the professor... he insisted on soft tire on one side and hard tire on another and won the race
My favorite driver ever
I remembered him so greatly when he came to Hong Kong for the Marlbora world tour celebrating the first French F1 champion. He shown up at Peninsula hotel on time, and holding a big stack of signed autograph distributing them to - almost all teenagers who rushing to him trying to get one! I was one of them and managed to get two - one is himself with the car and another one with Niki Lauda. one of greatest day of my life>
Thanks for this podcast! So good to hear from the Professor, and great interview questions!
We all love Senna no doubt because of his personality and speed, but Prost shows that you can be a more well rounded type of person and with a calculated approach and still be freakishly fast and win everything. Which is truly amazing. Love Prost, so glad he achieved at least what he did in F1, I do feel that he deserves a few more championships though given the bad luck that he had.
The Senna vs Prost rivaly was so intense, I loved hearing Prost's perspective, which also shed new light on Senna's character. Such a great story in F1, and sport as a whole, these 2.
Who knows how good Senna might have been if Prost wasn't around too? Looking back it makes me think that Senna (who was obviously quick already) was driven to new heights because he was so determined to beat Prost, but without him would he have had the same level of success, or the same level of 'greatness' that we all speak about?
Simply beautifull interview.
Senna vs Prost - Prost vs Senna -
Legendary, best Time EVER in F1
Great interview, thank you!
honestly after hearing his side his a gentlemen out of all the champions we have
Great interview. I loved it. Prost is honest and very wise.
At 21:37 I think Prost is talking about Gilles Villeneuve’s accident at Mount Fuji ‘77, when he came together with Ronnie Peterson, and his Ferrari went into an enclosure where spectators were standing (an area where spectators were not allowed) and the accident killed 2 people and injured a number of others.
Exactly, that's it.
Amazing podcast with some very interesting questions.
Hope you plan on continuing these into the winter
With a bit more chance. This guys would have 8 world champion title. Incredible living legend of Formula One.
Geo_F1 for sure he was the BEST. For me prost = senna
Prost deserved the 1988 championship, no disrespect for Senna though.
@@yellow_x522 that's a fact, he scored more points but due to rule where only 11 races counted he didn't win.
In fact, Alain has been fighting for the title during ten of his thirteen seasons completed in Formula one (1981 to 1986, 1988 to 1990, 1993), even if, of course, I don't mean he should have won all of them. And competing for it at least once in each team he drove for, with teammates named Watson, Arnoux, Lauda, Rosberg, Senna, Mansell, Alesi or Hill (not really known to be water carriers). That's literally an incredible career.
@@hinmatow IMO Prost had the toughest lineup of teammates ever in the history of the sport. Part of his legend.
great stuff. i enjoyed every second of it
The muffled sound of racing cars in the background adds something to this interview with a legend.
The first time I saw F1 a Marlboro car was leading a race (by a huge margin) which was the last of the season. It turned out that the driver would loose the championship for .5 points. The next few seasons I was glued in front of the tv whenever there was a f1 race supporting the one that was called the professor. He never let me down. What a driver!
A wonderful interview. Alain to me seems like a very refined, reflective person.
He has always been a very "analytical" driver, like his idol Niki, right from the very beginning of his career you could notice it through his interviews. One of the most interesting to listen to in the F1 circus when he was driving, if you were interested in set up and strategy.
Amazing interview... again! Thanks Jean prosT and Tom.
I simply love this Podcast. Here some suggestions for another guests: Nikki Lauda, Flavio Briatore, Jackie Steward, Jean Todt, Ross Brawn, Nigel Mansell, Mika Häkkinen, .... omg this list can goes on and on. Lookin forward to the next episode.
thanks for the good interview
This was a fantastic interview.
legendary
Alain Prost was arguably the best of all, not the very fastest but a master of car setup so he didn’t have to wring his neck, he lost the title in 83 through mechanical failure at the last race, the half point in 84 albeit Senna might have past him in Monaco anyway before it stopped, he won easily in 85 and you could argue 86 made up for losing in 83, Mansell was going to win to be fair but it gets forgotten that Prost actually scored more points than Senna in 1988, but only the best 11 scores counted and he had the one mechanical failure between the two of them all season at Monza and then in 89 it was Senna in the wrong at Imola but Prost was remarkably consistent, mainly because he didn’t wring the car s neck hence a lot less mistakes, Senna was trying to make a gap that wasn’t there at Suzuka in 89 and in 1990 with an inferior car he took Senna to the last race for the title and Senna drove him off the road and in 93 after not driving for a year and in a car he says he didn’t like he won again albeit Damon Hill was arguably unlucky in 93.
Awesome interview!
Awesome, love it. It was time "The Professor" had some more airtime :)
Amazing! I was on the inside of beckets watching that very same race... wonderful memories!.
Excellent again. Thank you
Best one yet
Quite possibly the most well-rounded F1 driver of all time. Blindingly fast, but incredibly intelligent and sensible at the same time. He knew how to play the politics and keep cool. Truly, The Professor.
I love how he says "to be a winning team you need to be in England"
And its absolutely true. Not only british team but British drivers aswell had alot of privilage in this sport. Its much tougher to break through as a south american or asian then it is for a british driver. Britain has the most number of drivers entered throughout history simply because they had alot more opportunities to enter because of the language, positioning and the fact that 70% f1 teams are British. This is why I always have much more respect for non British and american champions.
I suspect he is talking about the French Government restrictions, the cost of Labor and social benefits which are 50%!!! It is exactly why Prost F1 failed as he was a perfectly capable team manager
these are wonderful
Prost has always said he does not regret having suggested Senna to be his teammate at McLaren, though I suspect he did. If not for Senna being his teammate, he would no doubt be at least a seven time world champion. I often wonder why Prost is rarely mention today in F1, despite attending most races.
No, he didn't regret it. This led to the biggest rivalry in F1. Honda had their say in it as well, just as Renault put pressure on Williams to hire Senna. The number of titles is relevant only to people driving in the same era.
alain prost will forever be the legend for very long time
Thank you!!!
the smartest and best my hero
Awesome interview!😮😮😮
Damn those racing cars sounds in the background, it's really iconic
Interesting Prost says Renault in the 80’s was hampered because the corporate head office made decisions, not the racing team. Reminds me of Ferrari especially under Marchionne.
Great job guys. Really hope you guys bring Piquet to a interview. That gyu kick @22!
I so agree.... Love Piquet
Thank you so much F1! Exactly what we asked for!
Prost vs Senna: greatest rivalry in all sports history. Congrats M.Professor!
What a great interview. Would love to read a book written by him someday soon
thank you
Niki Lauda, Jackie Stewart, Ross Brawn or Maurizio Arrivabene next please
Very good professor!
Thank you, what a stories!!:)
About Lauda i remember in 1983 that he was almost as fast as Prost.
Mika hakkinen next please !
..................YES
That should be a 9 hours podcast
What a nice comment section. First time I've seen people talking on this channel in a civilized manner
Because intelligent people are listening intelligent drivers like Prost.
I would love to see the podcast from Ron Dennis!
Good look finding him...
@@nordimejia5790 where has he been tho?
L'un des seuls professeur que j'apprécie écouter #GOAT
Alain is cool.