Prost amazed by risk taking F1 drivers
27 September, 2011
Alain Prost
Sep.27 (GMM) Four time Formula 1 world champion Alain Prost has admitted he was amazed when he tuned in on television to recent grands prix.
Prost recently tested the Renault with which he contested the 1983 season, and said it was an eye-opener in contrast to the sport’s most recent races.
“I wonder now if the drivers are not too disconnected with a sense of risk,” Prost told the French sports daily L’Equipe.
“In Belgium and Italy they seemed to be taking risks in the strangest places. When Webber overtook Alonso at Spa … honestly. And the same with the pass of Vettel at Monza, with two wheels on the grass.
“You can get away with these things nine times, but the tenth … I’d like to see them drive my car of 1983, just so they realise what they are doing,” he added.
56-year-old Prost, who said becoming a team owner is the biggest regret of his career, said he would be “very frustrated” if he was a driver in today’s era.
“The driver was always important but it’s not the same now,” said the Frenchman. “You can see it in the gaps between the teammates — sometimes it is a tenth now where in the past it could be a second or nearly two.”
Prost is also critical of Michael Schumacher’s return to F1.
“If the goal was to return to be world champion, then it was ridiculous,” he said. “If instead he said he was doing it to help Mercedes and Rosberg, then at least it might be seen as a noble gesture.”
Related posts:
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- Prost says Schumi return to top impossible
- Prost praises Schumacher’s comeback effort
- Prost says Schumi’s expectations unrealistic
- Alain Prost to be Bahrain GP steward
Oh my god @ comments below…you people really do not have a clue..HOW OLD ARE YOU GUYS???…how on gods earth would you dare an F1 driver from the 80′s where the cars were raw, turbocharged to over 1000hp, next to zero aero dynamics, NO driving aids…they had a normal gearbox with a old fashioned foot operated clutch pedal meaning THEY HAD TAKE ONE HAND OFF THE STEERING WHEEL TO CHANGE GEAR…to drive the Ipod F1 cars of today?? You generation Y’s…not only foolish but ignorant.
I dont think Alain Prost is sticking his neck out by saying Schumis comeback was a waste of time…have you guys been watching him on his comeback? his gonna be lucky if he wins a race by the time his contract is up at the end of next year people! Mercedes will need to pull a huuuge turn around for michael to be competing with Vettel. There’s one eyed Schumacher fans…then theres REALITY. And guess what: Prost was better than Schumi ever was
Subiedude, loved your creative take on Senna but i agree with the rest of what you said
At the age of 16, I only wish I was around for the 80s racing. I watch the old footage a lot, and when I watch F1 these days it bores me. Prost was one of the greatest ever. Schumacher is one of the dirtiest ever. Lewis is even worse. More people should race like Button and Alonso.
Prost, you wouldn’t have the b***s to do what Schumi is.That’s the difference between a run of the mill racing driver and a REAL racing driver…Just another has been,spitting out the sour grapes again.
Pathetic!
I have always respected the Professor on and off the track. he was a clean driver in a time with one of the dirtiest drivers, Senna. Ayrton ran anyone off the track to win with high risk moves. he ran Prost, his own team mate, off to insure he would win the championship, admitted it, and nothing was done about it. F1 is changed in technology and more importantly, money invested, money invested to lure more money. It is plagued by boring racing generally, little passing, but of course there are still the new guys who think they are Senna, i.e. Lewis, Kobyashi, Sutil, Perez and others who regularly get involved in stupid moves and subsequent crashes. I hope people are not watching F1 for the crashes, especially stupid moves by Lewis just to see what the consequences will be, but I am afraid that is the only “theatre” F1 offers now.
Jeeze another one at it with the ” I’d like to see them drive my car of 1983″ what with Stewart, lauder and now Prost im getting tired of all the comments from these past drivers. its an all new ball game now than it was back in the days of these past drivers, they were good back them and Id like to reverse the statements and see any of them drive a modern day F1 car, my guess would be they wouldnt get it around any circuit without hitting someone and even worse if they were all on at the same time. Foir my monjey I just wish the hell theyde all give it a rest and shaddap.
suck it up prost, you will always be no better than schumacher, the greatest-driver-of-all-time