Ayrton Senna vs Alain Prost
The most intense rivalry in Formula 1 history — Ayrton Senna vs Alain Prost. Championships, poles and the McLaren years compared.
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Ayrton Senna
Brazilian · Born 1960
Three-time World Champion considered the most naturally gifted driver in F1 history.
View Full Profile →Alain Prost
French · Born 1955
The Professor — four world championships through intelligence and precision where others used brute force.
View Full Profile →Career Statistics
| Statistic | Ayrton Senna | Alain Prost |
|---|---|---|
| Championships | 3 | — |
| Race Wins | 41 | — |
| Pole Positions | 65 | 33 |
| Fastest Laps | 19 | — |
| Podiums | 80 | 106 |
| Career Points | 614 | — |
| Race Starts | 161 | — |
| Pole Percentage | 40.4% | — |
| Racewins | — | 51 |
Ayrton Senna
Ayrton Senna da Silva was born in São Paulo in 1960 and became the most naturally gifted racing driver in Formula 1 history — a consensus shared across the sport among those who observed, competed against and analysed his career. He drove for Toleman (1984), Lotus (1985–1987), McLaren (1988–1993) and Williams (1994). He won 3 World Championships — 1988, 1990 and 1991 — all with McLaren. He took 65 pole positions from 161 starts — a pole position rate of 40.4% that remains the highest in the sport's history. He won 41 Grand Prix. He scored 80 podiums and 614 career points. His qualifying laps —…
Full Ayrton Senna biography →Alain Prost
Alain Marie Pascal Prost was born in Lorette, Loire, France in 1955. He won four Formula 1 World Championships — the record at his retirement. His rivalry with Ayrton Senna at McLaren in 1988 and 1989 — and their collision at the 1989 Japanese Grand Prix — is the most discussed individual rivalry in F1 history. His driving style was nicknamed The Professor for its smooth, calculating efficiency — he preserved tyres and fuel better than any contemporary. He won 51 races. He later started the Prost Grand Prix team which went bankrupt in 2001. He was voted by many motor racing journalists as the …
Full Alain Prost biography →The Verdict
Prost won 4 championships to Senna's 3. Senna has the higher pole position rate (40.4% vs 16.6%) and is considered the more naturally gifted driver. Their deliberate collisions in 1989 and 1990 remain F1's most controversial moments. Most within the sport consider Senna the greater driver; Prost the more complete racing strategist.