+18 Alain Prost dons the red once more
At 68 years of age, Alain Prost still manages to look remarkably fit in Ferrari red overalls. 32 years after his ignominious exit from the Scuderia, the French quadruple F1 world champion was back behind the wheel of his Ferrari 643 at the Gulf Historic Dubai Grand Prix Revival.
Alain Prost was a Scuderia Ferrari driver for just two seasons. In 1990, Prost left McLaren as the reigning world champion. McLaren had been his team since 1984, but two years of rivalry with Ayrton Senna – culminating with that infamous collision at Suzuka in 1989 – had left a mark. Prost preferred leaving.
Again Senna in Suzuka
Carrying the number 1 on his Ferrari 641, Prost embarked on a strong campaign. He would win five Grand Prix and was in the running for the championship, right up until the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. Here, the controversy followed right after the start. Ayrton Senna in the McLaren took Prost out at the first corner, thereby sealing him the world title.
Truck
In 1991, Prost found the Ferrari 643 a much less competitive proposition for the second part of the season. The V12-powered Ferrari 643 got off to a promising start at its debut race at the French Grand Prix, where Prost came second. But second place was the best result he’d score in it. Prost compared the 643’s handling to that of a truck, which resulted in Ferrari firing him from the team after the Japanese Grand Prix.
Demo laps
At last weekend’s Gulf Historic Dubai Grand Prix Revival in Dubai, Prost got back behind the wheel of his old Formula 1 once more. The Frenchman is notorious for his complete lack of interest in all things past, so this really is something special. He was reunited with one of his old Ferrari mechanics for the occasion. And complete with red overalls, Prost went out for some demonstration laps. It’s clear that Prost and the Ferrari 643 are unlikely to ever find common ground. After just three laps, the V12 engine let go.
Prost, who has driven more recent F1s, did admit to feeling more emotions on his drive in the Ferrari 643 than in the more modern cars. Who knows, maybe Alain Prost and nostalgia are becoming a thing after all?
