Alain Prost to tell his life and F1 story

Twenty-nine years ago Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna stood together on the podium at the Australian GP, the final race of the season and embraced one another, the rivalry that defined the sport, it seemed, thawing just for a moment. But that moment, which took place on November 7, 1993 was historic for another reason – which none of us watching knew at the time. As it turned out it would be the last time that either Prost or Senna would stand on the podium.

After that grand prix, which was won by Senna in a McLaren ahead of Prost in his Williams, the Frenchman would retire from the sport. Senna failed to finish the first two races of the 1994 season before arriving at the ill-fated San Marino GP in May.

I remembered this when I met Prost at the McLaren Technology Centre in early November. Recalling his rivalry with Senna, Prost hinted that it was more nuanced than many realise. “He was complex and perhaps too difficult for me but in my life I have known many drivers and I am very proud to have been involved with him as a competitor – perhaps the biggest competitor. But he was also perhaps almost a friend in the end.”

Looking back on Senna’s death he remembers Ayrton seeking him out – wanting perhaps to reconnect with his old rival and friend: “It is a shame obviously his accident at Imola but on that day when he had the accident he was looking for me all the time wanting to talk about safety, wanting to talk about the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, about the Benetton. He said I am not motivated by these guys. It is a shame that you are not there. I have lost my motivation, which was maybe the best thing that he could say to me.”

Today Prost appears still bruised from his abrupt exit from F1 after a public falling out with Laurent Rossi, the boss of the Alpine team where Prost had been a non-executive director. He says ruefully that the past year has been the first when he has not been involved in the sport and although he says he is not actively looking for a job I wouldn’t be surprised if he returned to the fray at some point.

“The Prost/Senna rivalry was more nuanced than many realise”

For now the four-time world champion is busy working on a documentary about his life for the French TV channel Canal+. The four-parter will air next summer and, according to Prost, will not just be about his racing: “I want it to be half about racing but half about my life. I want people to know a little bit more about me. About my brother [who died of cancer in 1986] and how it can affect you when you fight with people like Ayrton. It will be different and more personal.”

Perhaps almost 30 years after retiring as world champion we will finally get to know a little more about the Professor.

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Readers will be saddened to hear of the death of Simon Arron. He died on November 11, aged 61. He was as much a part of the fabric of Motor Sport as the green masthead and his departure is a blow to all of us on the magazine and to the wider world of motor sport which he loved and championed so passionately.

Over the years Simon was variously editor of the magazine, chief interviewer, picture editor and roving reporter, travelling the length and breadth of the country winkling out curiosities from the world of club racing. Latterly he occupied the position of editor-at-large – a role that gave him the freedom to cover any and all of his passions – with the exception of wildlife photography.

Following his death, there was an outpouring of good wishes. The reaction was not surprising: Simon had a way of touching people with a shared passion and embodied much of what the motor sport community is.

His knowledge of racing history was legendary. Although it was worn lightly, if you wanted to check who won the third round of the 1990 British F3000 Championship Simon would know – and he’d tell you what the track conditions were too. When I took over as editor his expertise was a little intimidating, but I quickly understood that his knowledge was shared freely without judgment or ego. It was a currency that he spent profligately for the greater good. The more he knew the more he felt a duty to inform others.

He was a stickler for accuracy too: “You know more about my career than I do!” exclaimed Damon Hill at one of our live Evening With events when Simon corrected him on a detail about the 1993 season.

Simon balanced the twin and sometimes competing imperatives of being a fan and a journalist. His popularity and passion gave him privileged access to the paddock where drivers and engineers both trusted and liked him. In turn he knew how to treat delicate information. This could make life difficult for an editor keen to push the story on. Invariably however I would learn to trust Simon’s judgement.

He passed his passion down to his son Tom who works in motor sport, starting at Brands Hatch and now across MSV. Tom is rightly proud of his father’s legacy and has displayed all of his surefootedness in managing the fallout of his death. Motor Sport extends its deepest sympathies to Tom and his sister Lucy.

Alan Hyde, the commentator for BTCC and friend of Simon’s once made an observation which at the time appeared merely true. But I feel it perhaps now takes on a deeper resonance: “If everyone loved something as much as Simon loves motor racing, the world would be a better place,” he said.

Too right.

Joe Dunn, editor
Follow Joe on Twitter @joedunn90

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