Prost vs. Senna

[StockCarRacer]

Alain Prost vs. Ayrton Senna: The greatest rivalry the sport has ever seen throughout its history. In this thread, more will be discussed about this.

 

[toyotsupra]

Two great drivers then will never be forgotten

 

[lbsf1]

I'm more of a Senna fan, however you can't deny that they both were amazing drivers. I feel that prost got alot of decisions to favour him (French Connection) and that sometimes Senna was unfairly penalized.

However it produced some of the best racing ever seen.

 

[StockCarRacer]

So, did the French people like Senna?

 

[lbsf1]

So, did the French people like Senna?

Well the head of the FIA and FISA at the time was french, so I feel that he tended to give in to Prost's demands.

 

[StockCarRacer]

Well the head of the FIA and FISA at the time was french, so I feel that he tended to give in to Prost's demands.

So the French were hostile to Senna, right?

 

[lbsf1]

So the French were hostile to Senna, right?

Not "Hostile" however they didn't seem to agree with him often.

 

[StockCarRacer]

Not "Hostile" however they didn't seem to agree with him often.

Why didn't the French seem to agree with him? And did you know that, in 1993, at that year's Brazilian Grand Prix, the Brazilian police escorted him due to hostility of Brazilians towards him?

 

[lbsf1]

Why didn't the French seem to agree with him? And did you know that, in 1993, at that year's Brazilian Grand Prix, the Brazilian police escorted him due to hostility of Brazilians towards him?

Prost is french, as was the head of the FIA. Therefore in situations where a decision was to be made between the two drivers then Prost seemed to be favoured. Maybe the Brazillians didn't like Prost aswell, however they didn't have the head of the FIA. I'm trying not to say things too certainly as it may be coincidence however there are situations when it seemed that way.

 

[StockCarRacer]

Actually, I was talking about why didn't the French seem to agree with Senna.

 

[Ardius]

Actually, I was talking about why didn't the French seem to agree with Senna.

Prost and Belestre = the French. As for "why"....Belestre didn't like a lot of people (especially racing drivers). It was more a case of him preferring Prost because they were somewhat friendly rather than anything particular about Senna that Belestre didn't "agree" with.

Can we stop referring to two people as "the French"? Just a little unfair to paint an entire nation as disliking Senna, as I'm sure they don't all dislike the man.

 

[lukecfc]

This thread is useless, notice people are just talking around the topic. No one is going to say Prost was better than Senna, even if they believe he was. I remember a Vettel vs Senna (I think) topic a while ago, someone said that Vettel was better than Senna, the next page or 2 was full of people getting pissed off at the poster. Not that I'm saying anyones better than anyone at this stage.

Maybe you should make a poll, so people can actually say what they think anonymously.

 

[TheBigMan045]

More of a Prost fan althought Senna had the raw speed, Prost had the tactics and stategy, the only two drivers today that are like those two are Vettel (with his will to win) and Button (with picking and choosing his battles)

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

This thread is useless, notice people are just talking around the topic.

The topic seems to be Prost vs Senna in general. The poster never asked who you think is better.

 

[squirlybmx]

If you've seen his documentary or watched this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNmqn3heGgE&feature=youtube_gdata_player , there's no reason why you shouldn't believe Senna was the best. His driving, compassion, and pure ruthlessness will always be something I look up to whether I'm going about my daily business, or going side by side into a corner with an opponent.

 

[SagarisGTB]

Senna had better pure pace, maybe the best in modern F1, but Prost beat him (soundly in terms of points) during their time as teammates. Prost had 5 world champion teammates and he beat them all. Prost won a championship without the best car, something Senna never managed to do. Senna has developed a mystique and people tend to gravitate more towards his ruthless nature. But on race day, Prost was as good as Senna, maybe better.

 

[Clark]

I prefer the driver from the same era that had the qualties of both Prost and Senna and is under-rated in my opinion.

 

[hawkeye122]

Vettel doesnt hold a candle to either of them. He has the best car, not to say that Senna and Prost didnt, but they handled themselves much better. Much more decisive in their attacks.

Personally? Prost. Senna cam across as a bit cocky, feisty, and quite frankly a bit of an arse. Prost seemed much more professional.

 

[Sach]

Personally? Prost. Senna cam across as a bit cocky, feisty, and quite frankly a bit of an arse. Prost seemed much more professional.

You must mean when he and the other FIA cronies weren't fixing pole positions or twisting the rules to suit his world championship run?

 

[nitrorocks]

Well the head of the FIA and FISA at the time was french, so I feel that he tended to give in to Prost's demands.

I agree. Senna and Porst were some of the greatest drivers that have ever lived, but the FIA president Jean-Todt was french and would favor Alain over Ayrton. Like Senna's world championship crash with Prost in 1988 or 1989. I forget which year.

 

[Sleek Stratos]

I agree. Senna and Porst were some of the greatest drivers that have ever lived, but the FIA president Jean-Todtwas french and would favor Alain over Ayrton. Like Senna's world championship crash with Prost in 1988 or 1989. I forget which year.

Jean-Marie Balestre. Todt became FIA president in 2009.

Balestre did however lean towards Prost's side. Heavily sanctioning Senna in 1989 at Suzuka. Then switching pole position to the inside line for the 1990 Suzuka GP.

Which is one of the few instances where I sort of take issue with Senna's on-track attitude. If he really wanted to show the "politicians", as he would call them, that they shouldn't have messed with him, he should have driven his heart out and taken the win from Prost.
Yes, it was unfair he lost the lead because of a tainted last-minute call, but there was no telling if he or Prost could've been severely injured by diving his car into the corner like that.

But then I mean "sort of take issue" because, all that being said, it must've felt delicious to walk out of that dust cloud showing Balestre the consequences of his partiality. Which is probably why he didn't touch Senna with a ten-foot pole afterwards.

Here's a funny anecdote I found regarding Alain and his experiences with Ayrton.

[...]It was at Imola that the most bitter feud in motor-racing history took seed. Senna and Prost, as usual, qualified 1-2, a second and a half clear of the rest, and Ayrton suggested that they not jeopardise their prospects by fighting at the first corner, Tosa, on the opening lap: whomsoever got there first would keep the lead. Alain agreed. At the start, Senna led away, and at Tosa Prost duly fell in behind him.

Then, however, the race was stopped, when Gerhard Berger had a serious accident. On the restart, it was Prost who got ahead - but at Tosa Senna snicked by into the lead.

"Afterwards, he argued that it wasn't the start - it was the restart, so the agreement didn't apply. As I said, he had his own rules, and sometimes they were very... well let's say strange.[...]

 

[Sach]

Yes, it was unfair he lost the lead because of a tainted last-minute call, but there was no telling if he or Prost could've been severely injured by diving his car into the corner like that.

Prost's on-board camera indicates that he turned in early. If you watch the replay, had Senna not been there, Prost would have cut that chicane. Senna was robbed of a chance to win the championship that year.

But then I mean "sort of take issue" because, all that being said, it must've felt delicious to walk out of that dust cloud showing Balestre the consequences of his partiality. Which is probably why he didn't touch Senna with a ten-foot pole afterwards.

It sounds like you are referring to two separate incidents as one in the same.

 

[Sleek Stratos]

I believe you thought I was talking about the 1989 incident with that first part you quoted. Both times I was referring to the 1990, first corner crash. Where Senna dove inside when Prost closed the gap, expecting Senna to back off.

 

[Sach]

Yes, it was unfair he lost the lead because of a tainted last-minute call, but there was no telling if he or Prost could've been severely injured by diving his car into the corner like that.

I believe you thought I was talking about the 1989 incident with that first part you quoted. Both times I was referring to the 1990, first corner crash. Where Senna dove inside when Prost closed the gap, expecting Senna to back off.

Well, one was nearer the end of the race, and one was on the very first corner, so your wording is confusing to me. And there was no last-minute call in '90. Senna put Prost off and his championship was over. I'm not sure what you mean by that.


1989 Suzuka = Lap 46




1990 Suzuka = 1st corner

 

[Sleek Stratos]

Well, one was nearer the end of the race, and one was on the very first corner, so your wording is confusing to me. And there was no last-minute call in '90. Senna put Prost off and his championship was over. I'm not sure what you mean by that.[...]

For the 1990 GP, prior to qualifying, Senna got confirmation from officials that pole position would be placed on the outside. Senna got pole. The next day, Balestre then went "hmm, yeah, no, changed our minds. Pole will be on the inside line."

In racing terms, that seems like a last minute call to me.

 

[Sach]

For the 1990 GP, prior to qualifying, Senna got confirmation from officials that pole position would be placed on the outside. Senna got pole. The next day, Balestre then went "hmm, yeah, no, changed our minds. Pole will be on the inside line."

In racing terms, that seems like a last minute call to me.

Yes, that part. 👍

 

[hawkeye122]

You must mean when he and the other FIA cronies weren't fixing pole positions or twisting the rules to suit his world championship run?

I meant more in terms of attitude, not sportsmanship.

 

[urunatural]

both great drivers, Senna taking the car to its limits that nobody else could reach, Prost not as temperamental as Senna, more cool headed, but in the rain It was Senna by himself, untouchable, I have been watching F1 since the late 60's, Jim Clark was another great one, but Senna is my favorite, unfortunately never saw Fangio race

 

[jtv90069]

Did a quick statistical analasis on both drivers.

Prost, 202 races, 106 podiums, 37 other finishes, 53 DNF, 33 poles, 41 fastest laps
Senna 162 races, 81 podiums, 25 other finishes, 49 DNF, 65 poles, 19 fastest laps

Very similar stats with Prost having a little edge, though I must say that overall Prost spent his career in more competitive cars.

Either way you look at it they are definitely two of the most successful drivers in history.

 

[iAnderton]

I rate Prost as the better all round driver, mainly because he seemed to have the right mind set for nearly every racehe drove. But Senna is definitely my favourite because of the excitement he generated! You couldn't fault Senna's expertise in the wet, nor (most) of his overtaking maneuvers. Both very equally matched drivers in my opinion, but I can't see any driver being as exciting as Senna ever was.