Alain Prost celebrates his 66th birthday: the career of a legend

Young Alain began his career in the early 70s in karting. He became European and French junior champion in 1973. The following year was that of confirmation: he became senior French champion. But military service catches up with him and Alain Prost must put a promising career on hold.

After finishing "his period", Prost quickly threw away his beret to rush into the world of automobiles: it was time for him to join Formula Renault, the school of motor racing at that time. His passage through the French promotion formula is impressive: 12 races out of 13 won.

European champion in the same discipline in 1977, he subsequently embarked on Formula 3 where he takes everything. In 1980, with the French and European championship in his pocket, Alain Prost only had eyes for the premier category. McLaren and its director Teddy Mayer, quickly fell under his spell.

First steps in F1, between flashes and disappointments

On January 13, 1980, Alain Prost took his first steps in Formula 1. If the McLaren of the time struggled to stand out, the young Frenchman surprised and quickly scored a few points in the championship. The legend is in progress, or almost... Prost has had an uneven season, the mechanical performances of his car are not there and despite undeniable potential, it is often forced to abandon.

Building on his potential, Renault-Elf hired him for the 1981 season with the plan to advance a single-seater equipped with this V6 turbo engine which promised so much and which had not yet shown all of its qualities. During this first season, Prost confirmed expectations and won three Grands Prix and two pole positions. The Frenchman's talent is exploding even if the management of the team is questionable. The 1982 season will bear its traces: the rivalry with his teammate Rene Arnoux will lose a lot of points to the one we already nickname “The Professor”.

Friction with engine manufacturers also had consequences: the climate was tense at Renault-Elf. This 1982 season was, overall, very difficult for Prost, who finished fourth in the championship while aiming for the title. Same disappointment in 1983 where the title narrowly escaped him. Faced with Piquet and a BMW engine "doped" with illicit gasoline... Prost is convinced that he will not succeed with Renault-Elf: he flies to a team that he knows well: McLaren. 

McLaren, confirmation and coronation

It is with the English team that Prost will become the legend which still remains today. If the title still eluded him in the first year in 1984 – Lauda won by only half a point – the climate in the team was ideal for the Frenchman. Alain Prost became world champion the following season: the year 1985 marked the first title of a Frenchman in Formula 1 but above all the first in an incredible series for the time.

In 1986, Prost repeated the feat, crowned World Champion at the end of a fantastic season of suspense, despite a car that was mechanically inferior to those of his rivals. This will not be the case in 1987. Prost finished the exercise off the podium. The cause ? The arrival of the Honda engine on the side of Williams, whose performances were phenomenal that year. McLaren will have to wait to benefit from it... It's done for the 1988 season. But a certain Ayrton Senna becomes the Professor's teammate, the start of Formula 1's greatest rivalry.

Prost-Senna, associate-rivals, but above all rivals

The two phenomena are on equal terms, with identical cars. The two pilots return blows and the tone rises. Until October 30 at Suzuka, these two deliver a memorable battle to the spectators, while the title is in sight. If Senna starts his race poorly, he manages to catch up and then overtake Prost after a breathtaking start to the race. Senna was finally Champion in 1988, ahead of his rival Prost. A first battle won by the Brazilian, but not the war... This rivalry reached its climax the following season, at the same Grand Prix: one more battle at Suzuka. This time Prost leads the championship. He has no choice: to win the title, he must not let Senna pass. He did not give up: a collision between the two cars, and two retirements. Prost takes back his crown.

Prost then leaves for Ferrari for the 1990-1991 season: the two rivals are no longer teammates. This time Senna is ahead in the championship: if Prost has not said his last word, Senna takes revenge for the collision of the previous season and sends the Frenchman's car to the ground. In short, Senna is the new champion. Tired, Prost took a sabbatical year away from F1, while his rival pocketed a new title this season. Result: three titles on each side, ball in the center. The rivalry is still alive but is fading.

A last stand of honor and reconversion

During the 1992 financial year, Nigel Mansell was crowned World Champion after 12 years of career. But the idyll between the Englishman and his Williams-Renault team is on the rocks: Mansell leaves IndyCar. A place is then vacant. Prost decides to get back behind the wheel, and at the end of a fantastic season, still facing Senna, obtains his 4th and final title. He then decided to end his career in F1 at the top of his game and tired.

Retired, Prost is not leaving the paddocks. After having been a consultant for television, he bought the Ligier team from Flavio Briatore: this was the birth of Prost GP. With his knowledge of mechanics and his experience, Alain Prost and his team made a promising start in 1997. But managing a team proved to be extremely complicated. In the winter of 2002, the team disappeared due to lack of results and financial support.

“Hi Alain and thank you again” wrote Christian Courtel in issue 900 of AUTOhebdo a few days after the announcement of the end of Alain Prost's career. Above all, thank you Alain for this superb career, which has put France at the top of motorsport.