Alain Prost: Records, Titles, Best Seasons & More

Alain Prost's four world championships made him the most successful Formula 1 driver since the 1950s and his tally of 51 Grand Prix victories stood until Michael Schumacher rewrote F1 history in the early 2000s.

Nicknamed "The Professor" for his intelligent approach to racing, Prost believed in looking after his car and driving no faster than was necessary to win. He was also particularly adept at playing politics to turn things in his favour.

Prost was known for his rivalries with his 1980s contemporaries Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell and, most notably, Ayrton Senna.

Alain Prost career stats

Starts	199
Wins	51
Podiums	106
Pole Positions	33
Fastest Laps	39
Career Points	768.5

Alain Prost profile

Prost began competing in karts at the relatively late age of 14, having earlier been an active footballer, wrestler and roller-skater, where he picked up his distinctive off-kilter nose.

After winning several karting championships, Prost attended the prestigious Winfield Racing School in France, entering French Formula Renault in 1976 and winning the title in his first year, including victories in all but one race.

Further success followed in the European Formula Renault and Formula 3 championships, leading to his debut in Formula 1 with McLaren in 1980.

Prost finished sixth in his first race in Buenos Aires, worth a precious world championship point, but ended the season with only five points after a series of accidents.

He moved to Renault the following season, scoring his first podium back in Argentina and his first F1 victory in his home race at Dijon. Prost collected two more wins that season and ended the championship fifth, seven points behind winner Piquet.

Prost picked up six more wins over the next two years, finishing runner-up to Piquet in the 1983 championship.

The Frenchman returned to McLaren in 1984 but was pipped to the title by teammate Niki Lauda, only to finally go one better in the subsequent year and claim his maiden title.

In 1986, he capitalised on Nigel Mansell's misfortune to become the first back-to-back champion since Jack Brabham in 1960. 1988 marked the start of the famed Prost/Senna rivalry and after the Brazilian prevailed in their first season together, their relationship deteriorated significantly in 1989, although Prost overcame the intra-team conflict to win a third world title.

Prost left for Ferrari in 1990 but his stint with the Italian giants was a controversial one. Critical of the team and the car's performance, Prost was sacked but his dismissal paved the path to his fourth world title at Williams in 1993.

Alain Prost titles

How many F1 World Championships has Alain Prost won?

Prost is a four-time world champion having finished top of the standings in 1985, 1986, 1989 and 1993.

Alain Prost's net worth 

Prost is reportedly worth $78million, placing him among the richest F1 drivers of all-time.

Alain Prost F1 records

At the time of his retirement, Prost held the record for most wins (51) and podium finishes (106).

"The Professor" remains McLaren's most successful driver having won three driving titles and 30 races across six seasons with the constructor.

Alain Prost best seasons

After a falling-out with Renault's management, Prost returned to McLaren for 1984, racing alongside the returning Niki Lauda.

The car proved dominant but despite winning seven grands prix, Prost was beaten to the title by half a point by Lauda. Prost made things right the following year, cruising to his first title by 20 points.

In 1986, Prost seemed destined to be foiled by Mansell's Williams, but the Englishman's famous tyre blow-out in Australia handled the title to Prost, who became the first back-to-back champion since 1960.

The McLaren was no match for the Williams in 1987, but Prost took his 28th career victory in Portugal, breaking Jackie Stewart's all-time record. Afterwards the Scot paid tribute, calling Prost "the best race driver of his generation".

The 1988 season was a phenomenal one for McLaren as Prost and his new team-mate Senna won 15 of the 16 races between them. However, despite scoring 11 more points than Senna over the season, Prost missed out on a third title as only the best 11 finishes counted towards the championship that year.

The following year, Prost and Senna's relationship fell apart to the extent that at the Japanese Grand Prix, with the title on the line, the pair collided. Senna continued and won the race but was subsequently disqualified, handing the title to the Frenchman.

Angry at perceived favouritism of Senna, Prost moved to Ferrari for 1990 and again battled the Brazilian for the championship. Once again the title was decided by a coming together between the pair at Suzuka, this time Senna being the beneficiary.

Outspoken about the team and car's shortcomings, Prost was fired by Ferrari before the last race of the 1991 season, leaving him out of a job in 1992.

But for 1993, Prost sealed a seat in the all-conquering Williams and duly romped to his fourth championship, afterwards retiring from F1.

Alain Prost best races

Prost rose to prominence during his debut F1 season in 1981 and the Renault driver exhibited his raw speed and tactical nous with a brilliant defensive drive at Zandvoort as he thwarted Alan Jones to win the Dutch Grand Prix.

It was merely a sign of things to come from the Frenchman, with Prost remarkably methodical and efficient in his driving and that was demonstrated in his crowning success at the 1986 Australian Grand Prix. Suffering a puncture early on, Prost showed little despair and charged his way back through the field before lady luck shone down on him as his title rival Mansell suffered a puncture.

Prost's infamous squabbles with Senna tend to be remembered more but the pair enjoyed some fabulous battles, not least at the 1988 French Grand Prix. Before a home crowd, Prost was determined to swing the momentum back in his favour after Senna had triumphed in the previous races and after falling behind his teammate following a slow pit stop, Prost was not going to let victory slip from his clutches that easily.

The home hero tailed Senna's gearbox for multiple laps until he attempted an opportunistic move to retake the lead. Once he regained it, he was never going to relinquish it from there.

Alain Prost racing teams

Prost went into team management after his driving career, finally buying the Ligier team in time for the 1997 season and renaming it Prost Grand Prix.

Olivier Panis finished second in that year's Spanish Grand Prix, and Jarno Trulli was runner-up in the chaotic 1999 European Grand Prix, but wins eluded them and Prost wound up the team at the end of the 2001 season.

Prost enjoyed a more successful foray into Formula E, winning the inaugural teams championship in 2014. More latterly, he was an adviser with Renault's Alpine F1 team, until leaving the role in 2022.