THE EDITOR
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 for 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.”