Alain Prost
born 24 Feb 1955 · raced 1980–1993
Alain Prost, known as "The Professor" for his smooth, intelligent, and calculating driving style, was a dominant force in Formula 1 during the 1980s and early 1990s. His fierce rivalry with Ayrton Senna remains one of the sport's most legendary and intense, often defining entire seasons. Prost's remarkable consistency and strategic brilliance led him to 4 World Championships, 51 Grand Prix victories, and 106 podium finishes across 198 starts, making him one of the most successful drivers in F1 history. His meticulous approach to racecraft and car development set a benchmark for future generations.
All-time records
Where Alain Prost ranks in the all-time Formula 1 record books.
- =1st in Most F1 Championship Runner-Up Finishes (4 runner-up finishes)
- =3rd in Most Consecutive F1 Pole Positions (7 consecutive poles)
- =3rd in Most F1 Poles in a Season (13 poles)
- 4th in Most Consecutive F1 Seasons With a Win (10 consecutive seasons with a win)
- 4th in Most Different Circuits Won At in F1 (22 circuits)
- =4th in Most F1 Drivers’ Championships (4 titles)
Top Teams
Top Circuits
Circuit | Wins | Avg ptsAvg Points (as awarded) |
|---|---|---|
| Circuito de Jerez | 2 | 6.4 |
| Circuit Paul Ricard | 4 | 6.22 |
| Kyalami | 2 | 5.8 |
| Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet | 5 | 5.67 |
| Silverstone Circuit | 5 | 5.56 |
| Autódromo do Estoril | 3 | 5.44 |
| Dijon-Prenois | 1 | 5 |
| Phoenix street circuit | 1 | 5 |
| Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | 2 | 5 |
| Adelaide Street Circuit | 2 | 4.67 |
Points are Grand Prix points as awarded at the time (sprints excluded); average points are per race started.
Most-shared teammates. Each link opens their head-to-head.
- Ayrton Senna31 shared races · Compare with Ayrton Senna (1988)
- Niki Lauda30 shared races · Compare with Niki Lauda (1984)
- René Arnoux30 shared races · Compare with René Arnoux (1982)
- Damon Hill16 shared races · Compare with Damon Hill (1993)
- Nigel Mansell16 shared races · Compare with Nigel Mansell (1990)
- Stefan Johansson16 shared races · Compare with Stefan Johansson (1987)
| Season | Championship position | Wins | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 1 | 7 | 99 |
| 1991 | 53 places lower than 1990 | 0 | 34 |
| 1990 | 21 place lower than 1989 | 5 | 71 |
| 1989 | 11 place higher than 1988 | 4 | 76 |
| 1988 | 22 places higher than 1987 | 7 | 87 |
| 1987 | 43 places lower than 1986 | 3 | 46 |
| 1986 | 1 | 4 | 72 |
| 1985 | 11 place higher than 1984 | 5 | 73 |
| 1984 | 2 | 7 | 71.5 |
| 1983 | 22 places higher than 1982 | 4 | 57 |
| 1982 | 41 place higher than 1981 | 2 | 34 |
| 1981 | 511 places higher than 1980 | 3 | 43 |
| 1980 | 16 | 0 | 5 |
| Season | Team | Matchup | Race |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Williams | Hill vs ProstDamon Hill vs Alain Prost | 6–10 |
| 1991 | Ferrari | Alesi vs ProstJean Alesi vs Alain Prost | 7–7 |
| 1990 | Ferrari | Mansell vs ProstNigel Mansell vs Alain Prost | 7–9 |
| 1989 | McLaren | Prost vs SennaAlain Prost vs Ayrton Senna | 6–9 |
| 1988 | McLaren | Prost vs SennaAlain Prost vs Ayrton Senna | 7–9 |
| 1987 | McLaren | Johansson vs ProstStefan Johansson vs Alain Prost | 5–11 |
| 1986 | McLaren | Rosberg vs ProstKeke Rosberg vs Alain Prost | 3–13 |
| 1985 | McLaren | Lauda vs ProstNiki Lauda vs Alain Prost | 4–10 |
| 1984 | McLaren | Lauda vs ProstNiki Lauda vs Alain Prost | 8–8 |
| 1983 | Renault | Cheever vs ProstEddie Cheever vs Alain Prost | 3–12 |
| 1982 | Renault | Arnoux vs ProstRené Arnoux vs Alain Prost | 5–11 |
| 1981 | Renault | Arnoux vs ProstRené Arnoux vs Alain Prost | 5–9 |
| 1980 | McLaren | Prost vs WatsonAlain Prost vs John Watson | 7–3 |
25 circuitsShow all▾
- Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet
- Silverstone Circuit
- Circuit Paul Ricard
- Circuit de Monaco
- Autódromo do Estoril
- Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
- Red Bull Ring
- Autodromo Nazionale di Monza
- Circuito de Jerez
- Kyalami
- Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
- Adelaide Street Circuit
- Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
- Circuit Park Zandvoort
- Hockenheimring
- Phoenix street circuit
- Dijon-Prenois
- Autódromo José Carlos Pace
- Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
- Suzuka Circuit
- Brands Hatch
- Detroit Street Circuit
- Hungaroring
- Zolder
- Long Beach
199316 races, 7 winsWilliams▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | P2 | 6 | |
| 1 | P2 | 6 | |
| 2 | P2 | 6 | |
| 1 | P129 places worse than season average (P3.1) | 0 | |
| 1 | P3 | 4 | |
| 1 | P129 places worse than season average (P3.1) | 0 | |
| 1 | P1 | 10 | |
| 1 | P1 | 10 | |
| 2 | P1 | 10 | |
| 1 | P1 | 10 | |
| 1 | P4 | 3 | |
| 1 | P1 | 10 | |
| 1 | P1 | 10 | |
| 1 | P3 | 4 | |
| 1 | Collision | 0 | |
| 1 | P1 | 10 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Alain Prost’s average finish in 1993 (P3.1, retirements excluded).
Earlier seasons1980–1991 (12 seasons)▾
199115 racesFerrari▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | P4 | 3 | |
| 6 | P2 | 6 | |
| 5 | Engine | 0 | |
| 5 | P3 | 4 | |
| 2 | Fuel leak | 0 | |
| 4 | Engine | 0 | |
| 5 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 5 | P3 | 4 | |
| 2 | P2 | 6 | |
| 7 | Alternator | 0 | |
| 4 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 7 | P5 | 2 | |
| 3 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 6 | P4 | 3 | |
| 2 | P2 | 6 |
199016 races, 5 winsFerrari▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | P3 | 4 | |
| 2 | Collision | 0 | |
| 2 | P1 | 9 | |
| 2 | P3 | 4 | |
| 2 | P2 | 6 | |
| 3 | P2 | 6 | |
| 8 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 3 | P4 | 3 | |
| 5 | P1 | 9 | |
| 4 | P1 | 9 | |
| 13 | P1 | 9 | |
| 3 | P5 | 2 | |
| 2 | Battery | 0 | |
| 6 | P4 | 3 | |
| 6 | P1 | 9 | |
| 7 | Oil leak | 0 |
198916 races, 4 winsMcLaren▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Withdrew | 0 | |
| 2 | Collision | 0 | |
| 3 | P3 | 4 | |
| 4 | P2 | 6 | |
| 4 | P1 | 9 | |
| 2 | P2 | 6 | |
| 5 | P4 | 3 | |
| 2 | P2 | 6 | |
| 2 | P1 | 9 | |
| 1 | P1 | 9 | |
| 1 | Suspension | 0 | |
| 2 | P1 | 9 | |
| 2 | P5 | 2 | |
| 2 | P2 | 6 | |
| 2 | P2 | 6 | |
| 5 | P2 | 6 |
198816 races, 7 winsMcLaren▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | P1 | 9 | |
| 2 | P2 | 6 | |
| 2 | P1 | 9 | |
| 1 | P1 | 9 | |
| 2 | Engine | 0 | |
| 2 | P2 | 6 | |
| 7 | P2 | 6 | |
| 2 | P2 | 6 | |
| 4 | Handling | 0 | |
| 1 | P1 | 9 | |
| 4 | P2 | 6 | |
| 2 | P2 | 6 | |
| 2 | P1 | 9 | |
| 2 | P1 | 9 | |
| 2 | P2 | 6 | |
| 3 | P1 | 9 |
198716 races, 3 winsMcLaren▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Brakes | 0 | |
| 2 | P7 | 0 | |
| 5 | Collision | 0 | |
| 7 | P2 | 6 | |
| 3 | P1 | 9 | |
| 5 | P1510 places worse than season average (P4.8) | 0 | |
| 9 | P6 | 1 | |
| 4 | P3 | 4 | |
| 3 | P7 | 0 | |
| 4 | Engine | 0 | |
| 2 | P3 | 4 | |
| 5 | P3 | 4 | |
| 4 | P94 places worse than season average (P4.8) | 0 | |
| 6 | P1 | 9 | |
| 3 | Electrical | 0 | |
| 5 | P1 | 9 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Alain Prost’s average finish in 1987 (P4.8, retirements excluded).
198616 races, 4 winsMcLaren▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | P1 | 9 | |
| 6 | P2 | 6 | |
| 3 | P2 | 6 | |
| 2 | Disqualified | 0 | |
| 5 | P1 | 9 | |
| 3 | Accident | 0 | |
| 2 | P6 | 1 | |
| 6 | P3 | 4 | |
| 5 | P2 | 6 | |
| 7 | P3 | 4 | |
| 4 | P2 | 6 | |
| 3 | P6 | 1 | |
| 1 | P1 | 9 | |
| 4 | P1 | 9 | |
| 4 | P3 | 4 | |
| 9 | Engine | 0 |
198516 races, 5 winsMcLaren▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Engine | 0 | |
| 9 | P3 | 4 | |
| 6 | P4 | 3 | |
| 1 | P3 | 4 | |
| 5 | P1 | 9 | |
| 3 | P2 | 6 | |
| 1 | P1 | 9 | |
| 3 | P2 | 6 | |
| 3 | P1 | 9 | |
| 4 | P3 | 4 | |
| 4 | Brakes | 0 | |
| 5 | P3 | 4 | |
| 5 | P1 | 9 | |
| 6 | Disqualified | 0 | |
| 2 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 6 | P1 | 9 |
198416 races, 7 winsMcLaren▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | P1 | 9 | |
| 2 | P1 | 9 | |
| 2 | Engine | 0 | |
| 1 | P1 | 9 | |
| 2 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 1 | P1 | 9 | |
| 2 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 7 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 2 | P4 | 3 | |
| 2 | P3 | 4 | |
| 1 | P1 | 4.5 | |
| 5 | P75 places worse than season average (P2.1) | 0 | |
| 2 | P1 | 9 | |
| 8 | Distributor | 0 | |
| 5 | P2 | 6 | |
| 4 | P1 | 9 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Alain Prost’s average finish in 1984 (P2.1, retirements excluded).
198315 races, 4 winsRenault▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Turbo | 0 | |
| 8 | P2 | 6 | |
| 5 | Turbo | 0 | |
| 4 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 5 | P1 | 9 | |
| 5 | P4 | 3 | |
| 3 | P1 | 9 | |
| 2 | P5 | 2 | |
| 13 | P84 places worse than season average (P3.8) | 0 | |
| 1 | P1 | 9 | |
| 1 | P3 | 4 | |
| 4 | P2 | 6 | |
| 1 | P1 | 9 | |
| 8 | P117 places worse than season average (P3.8) | 0 | |
| 2 | P6 | 0 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Alain Prost’s average finish in 1983 (P3.8, retirements excluded).
198216 races, 2 winsRenault▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | P4 | 3 | |
| 5 | Injection | 0 | |
| 1 | P2 | 6 | |
| 3 | P84 places worse than season average (P3.9) | 0 | |
| 2 | Injection | 0 | |
| 2 | P2 | 6 | |
| 8 | P6 | 1 | |
| 2 | Engine | 0 | |
| 3 | Engine | 0 | |
| 1 | Not classified | 0 | |
| 4 | P7 | 0 | |
| 1 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 2 | Engine | 0 | |
| 4 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 1 | P1 | 9 | |
| 5 | P1 | 9 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Alain Prost’s average finish in 1982 (P3.9, retirements excluded).
198115 races, 3 winsRenault▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | P2 | 6 | |
| 4 | Collision | 0 | |
| 3 | P1 | 9 | |
| 1 | P1 | 9 | |
| 2 | Suspension | 0 | |
| 1 | P2 | 6 | |
| 2 | Distributor | 0 | |
| 3 | P1 | 9 | |
| 5 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 9 | Engine | 0 | |
| 12 | Clutch | 0 | |
| 4 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 2 | P3 | 4 | |
| 5 | Collision | 0 | |
| 14 | Collision | 0 |
198013 racesMcLaren▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Withdrew | 0 | |
| 12 | Suspension | 0 | |
| 24 | P7 | 0 | |
| 18 | P6 | 1 | |
| 12 | P7 | 0 | |
| 14 | P114 places worse than season average (P6.9) | 0 | |
| 7 | P6 | 1 | |
| 7 | Transmission | 0 | |
| 10 | Accident | 0 | |
| 19 | Transmission | 0 | |
| — | Accident | 0 | |
| 13 | P5 | 2 | |
| 12 | P6 | 1 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Alain Prost’s average finish in 1980 (P6.9, retirements excluded).