Alain Prost

Alain Marie Pascal Prost (24 February 1955 - Present): French racing driver from Lorette, Loire who won four Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles (1985, 1986, 1989, 1993) and held the record for most career Grand Prix victories (51) from his retirement in 1993 until Michael Schumacher surpassed it in 2001. Nicknamed 'The Professor' for his smooth driving style, tactical approach, and analytical mind, Prost competed in Formula One from 1980 to 1993, winning 51 Grands Prix and achieving 106 podiums across 14 seasons with McLaren, Renault, Ferrari, and Williams. Prost discovered his love for racing when he started karting at age 14, winning the French senior karting championship in 1975.

He won the French Formula Renault championship in his rookie year 1976, taking 12 of 13 races. In 1978 and 1979 he won both the French and European F3 championships, by which time he was on the shopping lists of several Formula 1 teams. After carefully considering his options, he chose to join McLaren in 1980 to kick off his F1 career. After an impressive debut season, Prost moved to Renault for 1981-1983, winning nine races but losing the 1983 title to Nelson Piquet in the final round.

Renault shockingly fired him a week later. He returned to McLaren for 1984 and finished runner-up to teammate Niki Lauda by half a point in the closest championship finish in history. Prost won his first championship in 1985, beating Michele Alboreto, and retained it in 1986, becoming the first back-to-back champion since Jack Brabham in 1959-60. His intense rivalry with Ayrton Senna began when the Brazilian joined McLaren in 1988.

Although Prost won more races (7 vs 8), Senna took the championship. Their rivalry reached its peak in 1989 when they collided at Suzuka with Prost claiming his third title, and again in 1990 when they crashed on lap one at Suzuka with Senna taking revenge and the championship. Prost moved to Ferrari for 1990-1991, winning five races in 1990 but finishing runner-up. After criticizing Ferrari publicly, he was fired before the end of 1991.

Following a sabbatical year working as a TV commentator in 1992, Prost returned in 1993 with Williams-Renault, dominating the season with seven victories and his fourth world title before retiring. He achieved 51 race wins (record at retirement), 33 pole positions, 41 fastest laps (record at retirement), and 106 podiums (record at retirement). Beyond his statistics, Prost was known for his intelligence, racecraft, and ability to manage races rather than simply charge at maximum speed. Following retirement, Prost returned to Formula One as the owner of Prost Grand Prix from 1997 to 2001, having purchased Ligier, but the team struggled financially and folded after 2001.

Prost was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1999 and the FIA Hall of Fame. He is tied with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen for the fourth-most Drivers' Championships with four, behind only Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher (7 each) and Juan Manuel Fangio (5). Known for his professionalism, calculated approach, and fierce determination, Prost remains one of Formula One's greatest champions.