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Alain
Prost
 But
for a twist of fate Alain Prost might have become a professional footballer
instead of a four-time World Champion. The winner of more Grand Prix victories
than anyone in history remains a controversial figure when the discussion
turns to the greatest drivers of all time.  Some are put off
by his calculating nature but I do not have any such qualms, as a sober
inspection of his record can leave no doubt that he was one of the best.
Without Senna’s aura or Clark’s boyish charm he went about his
way winning races and titles. After a successful career in the junior
formulae he was offered a drive with McLaren in the last race of the 1979
season at Watkins Glen. To the surprise of everyone he turned them down
thinking that it would be a mistake to race a Formula 1 car without proper
preparation. After a test at Paul Ricard he was he signed with McLaren
fort the following season. He made his Formula 1 debut in Argentina in
1980. Driving a less than competitive car he out raced his more experienced
teammate, John Watson and ended up in sixth place. But the rest of the
season was marred by mechanical failures that resulted in a broken wrist
and a concussion. Prost had enough and left the team in disgust.  In
1981 he joined the resurgent French team Renault as number two to René
Arnoux. Again he would overshadow his more experienced teammate and scored
his first victory at the French Grand Prix. This was followed by victories
at Zandvoort and Monza. In 1983 he finished second to Nelson Piquet in
the World Championship. Tiring of the pressure to become the first French
World Champion driving a French car he returned to McLaren. But this was
a very different McLaren, having been taken over by Ron Dennis with a
car designed by John Barnard. He again finished runner-up in for the title,
this time to his new teammate Niki Lauda. In 1985 he finally won the first
of four titles. Repeating in 1986 after a three-way shoot-out with Nigel
Mansell and Piquet 1988 saw him partnered with Ayrton Senna. Thus began
one of the greatest rivalries in motor sports. A rivalry that was marked
by off-course excursions and mutual antipathy that was thankfully resolved
shortly before the great Brazilian’s death. 1990 saw him move to
Ferrari and a disastrous stint that ended up in his firing from that team.
Amazingly a driver of Prost's caliber had been fired from to teams, Renault
and now Ferrari. After sitting out 1992 Alain Prost returned to Grand
Prix racing as a member of the Williams team. Driving with precision as
if he had never left he claimed his fourth and final title. Alain Prost
is now the owner of his own team, Prost – Grand Prix and is bringing
the same amount of care and attention to detail that hallmarked his remarkable
racing career.
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