Tribute to F1 rivalries - Chapter 1: Senna v Prost

F1 is competitive. Why, the whole thing is built around guys driving cars really fast, doing whatever it takes to be the first across the line. When you’re going that fast, and infinitesimal fractions of a second seem like ages, there is a significant amount of bravery involved. Show me a man who says speed doesn’t scare him and you will have showed me a liar. True bravery on the race track is in seeing the move through once you commit to it. After all, you win a race by going ahead of people, but knowing exactly when to back off to fight another day is priceless. These qualities seem polar opposites, but are in fact essential to succeeding as a racing driver. The inherent conflict in the two approaches: out and out attack v/s calculated aggression is what makes racing so interesting. No surprises then, that arguably the best era of F1 was the one when the human embodiment of these traits were pitted against each other in a perpetual tussle: Ayrton Senna versus Alain Prost.

Ayrton Senna’s driving style they say, could only be described in one way, in one word: “Fast”. I’ve only watched recordings and clips of Senna, but the one thing I notice each time I see a Senna flying lap is how people move out of his way as soon as they saw that bright white-orange McLaren with the characteristic yellow helmet, out of what looks like pure awe, almost fear. Senna’s sole purpose it would seem was to win at any cost – something that endeared him to the fans, but drew some serious flak from competitors and authorities. Self-admittedly, he used fear as a weapon to push his limits, and transcend the machinery. Alain Prost, nicknamed “the Professor” was just the opposite. Quick as hell, yet restrained and calculated in his approach, Prost was one of the best F1 drivers of all time. He understood the fact that to score points, you first need to finish the race. He knew when to push, and when to back off. In 1988, McLaren entered into a deal with engine suppliers Honda, and brought aboard Ayrton Senna in a move that was to spark off one of the most intense rivalries of all time.

Senna had already had one run-in with Prost before during the 1984 Monaco GP. Prost led the race when it began raining heavily. A rookie Senna, in a midfield running Toleman, had started P8, and as the rain descended, showed first glimpses of his mastery, forging his way through traffic at Monaco, in the wet, to get up to second place. He had almost caught Prost when Prost waved to the Marshals to indicate dangerous conditions. The red flag came out on the next lap, and Senna passed Prost as the latter slowed down for the flag. However, since classification is based on standings at the end of the last completed lap before the red flag, Prost, and not Senna was awarded the win.

The second episode took place at Estoril in 1988. Senna was signed by McLaren to form the most formidable driver line-up. Prost and Senna in their Mclarens were so far ahead of the rest, that beating each other became their only challenge. At Estoril, the McLarens started off the front row as usual, with pole-sitter Prost being passed by Senna on lap 1. Prost fought back to go side-by-side on the start-finish straight, when Senna, staunchly defending his position almost drove him into the pit wall at turn 1. It was widely perceived as dangerous driving, and sparked off a bitter feud between the two. The championship came down to a win at Suzuka, for the first of three cliffhangers these two would play out over time. Senna needed a win to clinch the title from points leader Prost, but stalled on the grid. In a true all out attacking drive, Senna made positions up, and actually passed Prost on track at the Casio chicane. He went on to win the race and his maiden World Championship.

The rivalry turned into a feud in 1989, when Senna passed Prost at the first corner at Imola after initially appearing to fall behind, breaking a pre-season agreement to yield the first corner to whoever had the lead at that time. Prost was miffed, and the team dynamics suffered. It got really nasty by the end of the season, as the two drivers appeared to be driving for their own McLaren teams that happened to share a garage. The boiling point came at Suzuka, Senna again needed a win to stay in the hunt while Prost needed to finish above Senna. In a bid to overtake Prost at the casio chicane, Senna ended up too hot on the inside of the corner, forcing both cars off track. Prost had to retire, but Senna went on to drive through the escape road to take the race win and the title. He was later stripped of the title, citing that it was an unfair overtaking move due to use of the escape road, exacerbating the whole situation even further. There were many instances when Prost and others criticized Senna for being ‘dangerous’, especially in the wet where Senna was nigh untouchable as he was still pushing the limit when everyone else put safety first and backed off.

The 1990 season saw Alain Prost move to Ferrari, as the relations within McLaren had broken down to an unmanageable extent. The season was again very close, but this time with 2 races to go, Prost was the one doing the catching-up. He won the race at Jerez, to take the pair to Suzuka in a dead heat for the third year in succession. This time, Prost needed to win, and Senna needed Prost to not finish to seal the title. What followed was chaos. Senna had said before the race that he would take Prost out and he actually did! The Ferrari was on pole with the McLaren alongside on the front row. Within a few seconds of the start, Senna rammed Prost off the track at the first corner, taking both drivers out, and ensuring that the title stayed with him. His unapologetic demeanor after the incident only gave the impression that he thought it to be just desserts for the previous year’s incident.

1991 was a lean year for Prost, 1992 a sabbatical. He returned to F1 with Williams in 1993, with a clause in his contract to ensure that Williams would not sign Senna as his teammate. The Williams was unbeatable that year, and although Senna showed his brilliance in the rain [Donnington 1993 might just be the most amazing opening lap action ever] it wasn’t enough to stop Prost from bowing out of F1 with a 4th title. Senna was poised to take his seat at Williams for 1994, and as such the two bitter rivals seemed to part ways amicably at the end of the 1993 season on the podium at Adelaide.

The politics, the heated exchanges, name calling, allegations and controversies apart, these two legends of the sport competed against each other in the most closely and most fiercely fought rivalry in the history of F1, though the late 1980s, splitting 5 drivers’ championships amongst themselves in the span of 6 years. Both men admitted to considering the other as their greatest rival, such was the mutual respect for each other’s skill. It took a genius of Prost’s calibre to bring out the very best and very worst in the other worldly talent that was Ayrton Senna. F1 aficionados of our times can only envy those who witnessed this immortal tussle unfold.

This is my sincerest tribute to the sublime geniuses who have inspired many a modern F1 star.

Rest in Peace, Ayrton Senna.