F1's Iconic Rivalries: “A man without values”; Prost vs Senna

Prost and Senna hold one of Formula 1’s most iconic rivalries. The iconic rivalry would later be turned into a book in 2009 by Malcom Foley. The rivalry starting in 1988 when Ayrton Senna had joined McLaren, becoming teammates with Alain Prost.

Prost had made his F1 debut with McLaren, and was previously partnered by Niki Lauda in 1984, before winning his first and second world championship in 1985 and 1986.

Senna made his F1 debut with Toleman-Hart in 1984, before making a move to Lotus-Renault the following year and winning 6 Grand Prix’s over his three seasons with the team. In 1988 Senna had made his move to McLaren where he would partner two-time world champion Alain Prost.

It was supposedly Prost who convinced McLarens management to sign Senna from Lotus in 1988. In a podcast with 2016 world champion, Nico Rosberg, Prost admitted he had led the discussion to bring Senna to McLaren.

“1987 you’re at McLaren and they want to take (Nelson) Piquet,” Rosberg said. “And you’re like no no no, take Ayrton. You say ‘because it’s better for the general interest of the team’. What are you? Like a charitable foundation?!”

Prost admitted his decision was based on naivety and insists that he had no regrets on his decision.

The 1988 season

In a dominance McLaren Mp4/4, Senna and Prost swapped race wins throughout the season. At the end of the season, it was Senna who took the world champion title, making it his first championship title. Towards the end of the season tension had started to rise about favouritism towards Senna.

The 1989 season

In 1998 McLaren took their second consecutive constructors title, with Prost taking the driver’s title.

Tension surrounding allegations of favouritism in the team continued to rise over the season, and it was made clear by the 1989 Italian Grand Prix that Prost would leave the team the following season in a move to Ferrari. This led to a huge manufacturer rivalry between McLaren and Ferrari.

Prost took his third F1 title in a controversial Japanese Grand Prix. At the start of the race Senna was one pole, accompanied by Prost in second. Desperate to pass after losing the lead, Senna tried to overtake at the last chicane, which was denied by Prost causing the pair to collide. Prost was forced to retire from the race, while Senna had re-entered the track, pitting for a new front wing and eventually managing to retake the lead in the final laps. Senna was later disqualified after the race for incorrectly re-joining the track.

The 1990 season

Despite both drivers no longer driving for the same team, the rivalry between the former teammates continued into the 1990 season. for the third consecutive season the title battle was solely between Prost and Senna.

The title decider was once again held in Suzuka, with Senna on pole in a McLaren MP4/5, once again accompanied by Prost in Ferrari’s F1-90. Going into turn 1, Prost had collided with Senna, taking both drivers out of the race. With Senna ahead of Prost in the championship going into Suzuka, Senna went on to take his second championship title.

Following the race, Prost had made comments regarding Senna. The Frenchman criticising his former teammate calling him “disgusting… and a man without values”.

The 1991 season

Senna went on to take his third and final career title, whilst McLaren-Honda stood 4th in the constructor’s championship. Ferrari had struggled over the 1991 season, with Prost openly shaming the car, calling it a “truck”. After a few remarks were made by the French driver regarding the car, Prost was dropped by the end of the season.

1992-1993

1992 saw the end of McLaren’s domination, and Nigel Mansell became the first Brit to become a world champion since James Hunt.

In 1993 Prost had made his return to the sport joining Williams. Senna too had interest in joining Williams, as Williams began to dominate the field, but Prost had a clause in his contract excluding Senna as a teammate. Prost finished the season in 1st, taking his 4th title, which led to his retirement at the end of the season and the end of the legendary rivalry.