Alain Prost dominated Formula 1 with a smooth style that contrasted sharply with his aggressive rivals. He used his intelligence to save fuel and tires, earning him a famous academic nickname. Furthermore, his intense feud with Ayrton Senna defined an entire era of motorsport history. Consequently, fans often overlook the fascinating personal details of the most successful French driver ever. Explore the wild secrets of the four-time world champion.
Alain Prost
People called him “The Professor” because of his calculated driving style. He conserved his brakes and tires carefully to strike only when it mattered most.
He lost the 1984 World Championship by only half a point to Niki Lauda. Consequently, this remains the closest margin of defeat in the entire history of Formula 1.
Ferrari fired him in 1991 for a very specific public insult. Specifically, Alain Prost compared the handling of his red race car to that of a “truck,” which enraged the Italian team owners.
He took a sabbatical year in 1992 but still got paid handsomely. Thus, he worked as a TV commentator while waiting for the perfect seat to open up at Williams.
Surprisingly, he broke his distinctive nose five different times. However, none of these injuries happened in a race car; they occurred during falls and non-racing accidents.
He originally wanted to become a professional soccer player or a gym instructor. In fact, he only discovered karting by accident during a family holiday at age 14.
Alain Prost reconciled with his bitter rival Ayrton Senna just days before Senna died. The Brazilian driver sent a radio message saying, “We all miss you, Alain,” which touched Prost deeply.
He remains the only French driver in history to win the Formula 1 World Championship. Therefore, he captured the title four times, cementing his status as a national hero in France.
He founded his own Formula 1 team called Prost Grand Prix in 1997. Unfortunately, the team struggled with debts and unreliable engines before folding in 2002.
He is absolutely obsessed with road cycling and rides thousands of miles a year. Furthermore, he claims that cycling helps him maintain his physical fitness better than any other sport.
His grandmother was Armenian, and he identifies strongly with this heritage. Specifically, she fled the Armenian genocide to settle in France, a story Prost speaks about with pride.
He won his final championship in 1993 using a car with “active suspension.” Consequently, this advanced technology allowed the car to adjust its height automatically for every corner.
During his rivalry with Senna, the two drivers agreed not to attack each other at the first corner. However, Senna famously broke this pact at the San Marino Grand Prix, igniting their war.
He holds the Order of the British Empire (OBE) despite being a French citizen. The British government honored him for his massive contribution to their motorsport industry.
Finally, he refused to drive in the rain at the 1989 Australian Grand Prix. Thus, he pulled into the pits after one lap because he believed the conditions were too dangerous to race.
