Former Ferrari driver Alain Prost feels his F1 career is “completely underestimated”. Alain Prost is convinced that he is not given due consideration.

Alain Prost, the ‘Professor’
He has been the ‘Professor’ for everyone, a calculator like few others in the history of Formula 1, capable of winning a total of 51 GPs in his experience with McLaren, Ferrari, and Williams, and notably securing four world titles. Only Fangio, Schumacher, and Hamilton have outperformed Alain Prost, famous also for being part of an unprecedented rivalry with Ayrton Senna, filled with controversies, on-track contacts, and a final handshake on the Adelaide podium that still touches the heart of fans.

Before and after Ayrton Senna
Yet, in an interview for Motor Sport, the Frenchman had the opportunity to relive his career in the sport, divided between pre and post-Senna eras: “I didn’t know how good he was, but we knew, I understood – he recounted, referring to a touring car race at the Nürburgring where he secured the pole while Senna started first – only in 1988, when I saw him in the same car, did I understand how good he was. Then, at our first test together in Imola, I understood that it would be difficult. Before, I enjoyed racing, I enjoyed fighting. I can’t say I had the same fun, I can’t lie. I remember that with Nelson Piquet, we went on vacation together the same year we were fighting for the championship, in 1983. Keke Rosberg was incredible, one of my best teammates. At the beginning of the year, everyone said it would be a disaster. Then, when Ayrton arrived, we reached a performance level that obviously makes you enjoy a little less. I suffered a lot, so you can’t enjoy it the same way.” – he pointed out.

An ‘Underestimated’ Career
But what were the main differences between Senna and Prost? A question to which the Frenchman replied, making a consideration: “Ayrton represented more flair. I was the ‘professor,’ clinical. He was ‘mystical,’ and people liked that – he added – I have to say that sometimes he really impressed me in qualifying, I don’t remember exactly when, but never in race conditions. In the race and warm-up, most of the time, I was faster. Sometimes I wonder how I will be remembered. It seems like a joke, but I have been completely underestimated! I know. I see it. I don’t know why, but in a way, it’s my brand.” – Alain Prost admitted.

A consideration about his characteristics compared to Senna’s that adds to others: “It seems that it will be like this forever, it’s part of history – he concluded – look at my other teammates: Watson, Arnoux, Cheever, Lauda, Rosberg, Johansson, Mansell, Alesi, and Hill. No one talks about them. I had five world champions as teammates, so it’s a bit of a shame, but that’s how things go. Today there are social media, and everyone goes back to watch videos of our battles. Sometimes I don’t understand. My career didn’t last only two or three years.” – the former Ferrari driver concluded.