Prost on relationship with Senna: “Ours was a magnificent story”

Senna vs Prost became one of the greatest rivalries in F1 and sporting history after the pairs battles in the late 80’s and early 90’s.
 
It is only in recent years that the French driver has realised the impact that he and his rival brought to the world through the amount people have talked to him about it.
 
“There isn’t a day when someone I know doesn’t talk about Ayrton and me: it means that we have done something, that something has endured,” he told La Repubblica.

“But in those years, live, you didn’t realize it. I don’t know how to say it: it was quite incredible.”

The two won seven World Championships between them (Prost: 4, Senna: 3), alternating for McLaren in the ‘88 and ‘89 seasons.

But the 65-year old believes that current and recent rivalries in F1 haven’t been the same as  his and the Brazilians.

“I don’t know if rivalries like mine and Ayrton’s are the same: they are different times, the racing world today is more sophisticated, the environment has changed and relations, even those with the press, are no longer the same,” he explained.

“And finally we have to consider the charisma, the styles and characters of the drivers.”

Two of the biggest points from their rivalry were the championship-deciding collisions in 1989 and ’90, where they both caused a collision with each other at Suzuka but the Frenchman states that by the time of his final race in F1 in 1993 they had forgiven each other.

“I triumphed in the [1993] World Championship by taking the podium [in Adelaide], but Ayrton who had won the race took my arm and wanted to share the top step with me," Prost said.

"That moment actually changed our relationship, and today I can say that ours was a magnificent story.”

Senna moved from McLaren to Williams for the 1994 season and suffered a difficult start, retiring in the first two races, but was killed in a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix. An incident that shook Prost and the F1 world.

“We even became friends,” he added. “He told me intimate things about his life. He was no longer the same Ayrton Senna who challenged me on the track.

“I remember he wanted me to take care of the drivers’ association: he called me several times a week to ask me for advice.

“I also remember that message on the radio in Imola ’94, before he died (‘We all miss you, Alain’).

“He was interviewed by TF1, French TV and, knowing that I was a commentator, he said those words. But I wasn’t in the studio.

“It wasn’t until after his death that they showed it to me, and I had tears in my eyes.

“In retrospect, I knew something was wrong. The world was either with Senna, or with Prost. But how did it end? That our stories were completely connected. Not only my career, but my life too. I’ve lived with this rivalry/friendship forever."