Alain Prost
Alain Marie Pascal Prost (Saint-Chamond, France, 24 February 1955), is one of Formula 1 racers most successful of all time. While it was active in the category in the period from 1980 to 1993, earned 51 victories and four world championships, and is also known by his nickname of the Master or the Professor, because his great career on the slopes.
[Edit] BiografíaNació on February 24, 1955 in Saint-Chamond, France. Son of André and Marie-Rose Prost Karatchi, descent born in France in Armenia. Prost had a younger brother named Daniel, who died of cancer in September 1986.
Pilot well known for his maneuvers coldly calculated.
[Edit] Career Deportivo says that the rivalry between Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna was one of the most interesting of two pilots who were far ahead of anyone else in his time. Such was the rivalry that the definition of the drivers' title in 1989 and 1990 was caused by a collision between the two.
Alain Prost was a pilot known for being very thorough in everything he did, taking care to detail every part of your car, every part of his leadership and potential in the world. It is said that Prost was driving the typical driving is taught in the pilot schools, which is quickly forgotten. Every time he looked at the track was slow printing, but his technique was extremely fast and effective. Additionally, Prost proved most successful rider at the time was perhaps more difficult to do, not only by the size of the drivers had to compete against those who (Piquet, Lauda, Alboreto, Mansell, Rosberg, Senna), but by the characteristics and specifications of the cars they drove. The decade of the '80s was the era of turbo, with a sophisticated mechanical and difficult to tame the engine power, coupled with restrictions on fuel consumption, safety and well developed yet and aerodynamics regulations favoring melee on track and overtaking. Emerged as the best strategist of his time on the technical side.
It is the second most successful driver in Formula 1, with 51 victories (the first being Michael Schumacher 91) and the second most fastest laps pilot career with 41 (the first is Michael Schumacher 76).
He has beaten all his team mates, with only three exceptions:
1980: John Watson added one more point, but ran one more race.
1984: Niki Lauda high 0.5 point more than Prost.
1988: Prost Senna scored more points (105 against 94) but the rule of discards which chose the 11 best results (in force until 1990) was finally champion Ayrton Senna was that year.
[Edit] McLaren-Ford (1980-1981) made his debut in Formula 1 was produced in the Buenos Aires Grand Prix in 1980 aboard a McLaren-Ford and won the sixth. In 1980 he won the fifteenth place in the drivers' championship with 5 points.
[Edit] Renault team (1981-1983) From 1981 to 1983 ran for the Renault team. His first victory was achieved in the circuit of Dijon-Prenois (France) in 1981. That would get 2 more years and end up fifth with 43 points, 7 champion Nelson Piquet. In 1982 achieved the first two wins in a competitive season (11 pilots were victorious), which would end the fourth with 34 points to 10 champion Keke Rosberg (who only managed one win) 1983 would be his first great battle for the title. However, an engine failure of his car in the last great prize, South Africa, would prevent him from achieving it. That season, achieved 4 wins and 57 points earned him second place, 2 less than the champion Nelson Piquet.
[Edit] McLaren (1984-1989) would return to McLaren in 1984, no less than as a companion of the great champion Niki Lauda. It was a year of broad domain of the McLaren TAG equipped with the powerful Porsche. In a close fight, Prost achieved 7 wins (the most successful driver of the year) but again runner-up finish just 0.5 points from Niki Lauda. The world title eluded him in two consecutive rounds through no fault of his driving, causing him to be recognized in the world of Formula 1 next season as "The Uncrowned King." As we shall see, this situation would change.
1985 was the year of his coronation. Despite a very good job of Michele Alboreto and Ferrari, Prost could be imposed and scored 5 victories being the one who got more wins that season with 73 points won the championship.
In 1986, Williams-Honda, comparatively more powerful than the Mclaren-TAG Porsche, were driven by Nelson Piquet and Nigel Mansell, to be serious contenders. The definition, one of the most exciting in history, occurred in the circuit of Adelaide in Australia. The overwhelming favorite was Nigel Mansell, who had achieved 5 wins and 70 points in that year, Prost followed him with 4 wins and 64 points and Nelson Piquet with 4 wins and 63 points. After leaving the pole, Mansell missed almost without a struggle to Ayrton Senna (Lotus-Renault), Piquet (Williams) and Keke Rosberg (McLaren), who retired from Formula 1. Finnish quickly took the lead in the race and achieved a considerable advantage when Senna was delayed to fifth place with mechanical problems. He then overtook Prost and Mansell Piquet hunted down. On lap 23, the result of pressure from the French, Brazilian spun it delayed to fourth. Prost then suffered a slow puncture and was the pits, leaving room. Piquet Mansell began to approach and overcame it. At all times the British, not riding to his aggressive style, made a conservative race and knowing that, mathematically was champion. At 18 laps to go, almost immediately after Rosberg, who led the race comfortably, abandoned by a puncture, and then let go and be back Prost third, Mansell Williams-Honda suffered a spectacular blowout of the rear wheel Left at top speed in the longest straight of the circuit, with the metal of the wheel touching the ground and causing a shower of sparks. The British fought to stop the vehicle until safely prevented from continuing. Piquet, who was walking first (a position that would have given the championship), with successive bursts was ordered to go to the pits to change tires. Prost took the lead and then won the race (his fifth in the season) and the championship despite the attempts of Piquet, who took the lap record. The French also came close to retiring, his car ran out of fuel seconds after seeing the checkered flag.
Mclaren in 1987 was definitely below Williams and powerful Honda engine. Prost gets 3 wins and 46 points to 27 of champion Nelson Piquet.
By 1988, Mclaren team is able to form more powerful: the impressive Honda engines, the extraordinary design of Gordon Murray and the two best drivers, Prost and Senna. McLaren won 15 of 16 possible and Prost winning 7 to 8 Champion Senna. While Prost added more points (105 against 94), discarding the standard (used until 1990) where you take the top 11 results, makes Senna and Prost won the championship runner-up. Their relationship began to be tense in the Grand Prix of Portugal, 1988. In the pit straight, Prost Senna began to overtake on the right using their aspiration, but Senna was closed in turn to his right, forcing Prost to put nearly a foot of the wall. Alain did not budge, and ended up getting the lead he would maintain until the end.
The title of 1988 would be defined in the penultimate round at Suzuka, Japan. To be a champion under the disposal system, Prost would win there and the next Grand Prix in Australia. The Pole had made Senna, but at the start the engine stalls and stops. With the decline of the Japanese line, unable to start your engine Ayrton Honda. Thereafter made a tremendous comeback to the first position, Prost, with a broken car problems accusing gearbox, more precisely from the 3rd. to the 4th. speed, unsuccessfully attempted to defend. The next race would be won by Prost, although the title was already defined.
By 1989, although the McLaren domination would not be as extensive as in the previous year, the title is defined between Senna and Prost in a controversy. In the Grand Prix of Japan in 1989, played at the Suzuka circuit, Prost came with 16 points ahead of Senna in the absence of 2 races for the season finale. Senna had to win in Japan (Suzuka) and Australia (Adelaide) to be a champion, regardless of the outcome of Prost. On lap 47 Senna tried to overtake Frenchman Prost and contains highly controversial collision causing both vehicles. In that maneuver both cars would be hooked. Prost and Senna leaves the car is assisted by court staff and cutting out the chicane. After the pit stop and go forward Alessandro achieved second Naninni who started first at the time, thus finishing the race Senna in first place, although shortly after the race would be disqualified for cutting the chicane with the help of others and Prost would be awarded the title. In this regard, Prost own version, which coincides with the observation of his friend tri-champion Niki Lauda, is that the position defended his attack on a legitimate Senna because he was in command of the path he was . But many pilots and experts from Formula 1 Prost blamed for the accident, as well as the Frenchman Jean-Marie Balestre, the president of the FIA at the time, to act for Prost for not having punished for the accident. [ 1] Alain Prost that year achieved 4 wins and 76 points earned him his third world championship of Formula 1. Tired of living with Senna and Honda's some favoritism towards it, decides to migrate to the promising Ferrari.
[Edit] In the Ferrari team (1990-1991) In 1990, Prost's Ferrari 641 on board made an outstanding season, placing in the broad domain real risk that the McLaren-Honda fearsome held since 1988 and getting back to Ferrari in open fight for the title. By the early years was evident that the McLaren-Honda was a better car, and the Williams-Renault were on the rise, but the great work of Prost and crew allowed the development of the 641 designed by Barnard, making mid season from becoming a strong rival.
The beginning of the season was not the best: In Phoenix the two left Ferrari to a wide domain of Senna's McLaren. The first victory was at Interlagos, Brazil. An incident between Senna and Satoru Nakajima made Prost was found with the victory. The celebration did not conceal the obvious reality that the Ferraris were below the Mclaren and just above the amazing Williams-Renault.
It would be only in Mexico, where Prost achieved one of its most stunning victories in the Grand Prix of Mexico, where starting 13 th, thanks to an excellent ride and an excellent race strategy, achieve completion in the first place, in a race plagued by overtaking and beautiful duels, such as that involving between Berger and Mansell for second place, culminating in the penultimate lap with a memorable overtaking on the outside of the curve "banked" and a subsequent failed attempt in the final corner by Mclaren pilot.
The renowned Alain Prost meticulous tuning of the car to race, he could somehow make up for some lack of raw speed of the Mclaren Ferrari over and allowed sensational victories, especially the above in Mexico, Britain and France, where Prost, despite being ranked 13, 4 and 5, respectively, led to a rapid and regular rhythm to the top of the podium.
As for engines, the V12 Ferrari was strong, although in some circuits the Honda V10 had advantages in acceleration. Some attitudes of his team-mate Nigel Mansell will be harmed in the fight for the title. At the start of the Portugal Grand Prix, Mansell moved deliberately to cover a Prost car. Finally the race ended with first Mansell, Senna and Prost second third.
By the end of the season, Prost had to win this time in Japan (Suzuka) and Australia (Adelaide) to be a champion, regardless of the outcome of Senna. On the contrary, if not win, Senna automatically be devoted champion. For the Japanese Grand Prix Senna had won first place in the grid and the second Prost. Senna asked to leave on the outside and less messy for the track, which was denied. At the start of the race Prost taking the lead, but on arriving at the first corner, Senna rammed him from behind. Automatically drop out of two is champion Senna. The first version was that Senna had Prost closed. However, some time later would recognize him out of the track on purpose and the reason would be because he was forced to foul along the side of the track. Prost achieved 5 wins and 71 points, making it runner-up to 7 points from Senna.
In 1991, Ferrari were not competitive and can not no victory, and only the fifth in the championship with 34 points. Prost statements complaining about your vehicle make fire the Ferrari driver and this can not participate in the final race.
[Edit] "year off" supposedly (1992) 1992 was a year of rest for Prost, despite speculation that this would be for Ligier.
[Edit] The Williams-Renault (1993) In 1993 Prost Renault rescues and places great Williams aboard the French engine. Despite fierce opposition from a first Senna, with a lower car, Prost does prevail and get 7 wins being the most successful of the year, 99 points and his fourth and final title. Prost Nigel Mansell replaced champion who apparently refused to be his teammate. That same year, Williams wore the number 0 (Damon Hill) and 2 (Alain Prost). The number 0 was due to progress to India Mansell, who owned the No. 1 champion.
[Edit] After Formula 1Desde 1997 and until 2001, Prost ran his own Formula 1 team, Prost Grand Prix, having previously bought the Ligier team. The team went bankrupt in early 2002. It should be noted at this stage that it was for one year colleague, Jean Alesi, was under the command of Alain Prost on this computer.
In 2007 and 2008 Prost won the championship of the Andros Trophy, French championship car that runs on roads with ice.
Outside the automotive world, Prost is fond of golf, and a very active cyclist and worked as a designer with the firm Cyfac bicycle frames.
[Edit] DistincionesLegion d'Honneur (France, 1985)
Champion of Champions Trophy (Club Grand Prix Drivers' retired, 1988)
OBE (British, 1993)
International Hall of Fame Motor Sports (1999)
World Prize of the century in sports (November 1999)
[Edit] Professor ApodosEl
Calculator
Frog ("Frog" by Nelson Piquet)
Fast Son of a Bitch ("Fast bastard" by Niki Lauda)
"The Napoleon of the Circuits"
[Edit] Formula 1 world LogrosCampeón 1985, 1986, 1989 and 1993
World Championship second place in 1983, 1984, 1988 and 1990
He completed 199 Grand Prix
51 Grand Prix victories
798.5 championship points
106 podiums
41 laps
6 wins at French GP
[Edit] Comparison with teammates during his career in Formula 1, Alain Prost has beaten all his teammates, including five world champions. The only exceptions are 1984, when Prost with Niki Lauda lost by half a point, in his first season with John Watson, who participated in more races making a point, and in 1988, when Senna won by 3 points, by discard the rule that applied in the championship that year. The original score was 105 to 94 to please the French.
