15 replies to this topic

[Jhope]

Alain Prost has sensationally revealed that he came close to signing a deal to partner Michael Schumacher at Ferrari during German’s first year at the team back in 1996.

The deal would have been remarkable on a number of counts if it had come off. Prost had already been retired for two-years at the time, and had stated that he would never race and F1 car again after his great rival Ayrton Senna was killed in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

The four-times world champion was also sacked by Ferrari at the end of the 1991 season after a bitter wrangle over comments the Frenchman made where he described his car as ‘handling like a truck.’

Speaking in an interview with Le Figaro newspaper Prost said: "In 1995, two years after I stopped racing, Jean Todt contacted me and explained the plan. Then the following season, I was ready to become Michael’s team-mate to help him become world champion."

But Prost realised that the plan would have been unworkable because of the media attention the superstar pairing would have attracted. He said: "I was ready to go back to the wheel, and I would have done it, but people would have tried to play us against each other; when at that time I wouldn’t have stood a chance against him."

Prsot still feels bitter about the lost opportunity that he had during his stint at Ferrari and he admits that he would have loved to have raced for the Scuderia under the present regime.

"I would have loved to have raced at Ferrari with Jean Todt, Ross Brawn and Luca di Montezemolo," said Prost. "Nonetheless, Michael’s biggest achievement was to succeed with Ferrari."

Hmmmm, how long do ya think he would have been sacked for breaking 'don't pass micheal rule"?

And if he ythought the 1991 Ferrari was truck, what would he have thought of the boat?

[Smooth]

Originally posted by Jhope
And if he ythought the 1991 Ferrari was truck, what would he have thought of the boat?

that was my thought!

[Jhope]

i copyright stolen thoughts sucker!;)

seriously, now *chuckle*, what kind of team would that have been? Do you think *chuckle* that Prost would have obeyed the rules set upon him by *oh dear* Jean Troll and Luca?

[Smooth]

I think Prost knew his best racing days were behind him. Racing in 1996 was very much different from 1993, and Prost, besides being a bit older, knew when his day had come, and bowed out gracefully. What he would have brought to Ferrari would have been a wealth of knowledge, and probably would have provided Schumacher with the tempermant he seems to have developed the last year or so a lot earlier. Prost stated on several occasions he didn't think he would have been able to race at the same level as Schumacher in 1994/1995, and Schumacher was still very much learning. Prost, in his prime, would certainly have been a different story. Senna, as well, probably had a couple more good years, and would have had to evolve a bit with the change in racing becoming strategy driven sprints. Prost, who relied on his ability to save tires and fuel while still being in the hunt, would have been out of his element when those qualities become less important.

I agree, though, that the two of them in the same team would have been a media nightmare. The two of them together at Ferrari, even worse. The Italian media would have buried them in sheer volume!

[Jhope]

Both michel and alain have a great sense of technological knowledge. I think, sorry, i kno thast they woul dhave made that car more competitive than eddie made it. so in the end, the move to Ferrari woul dnot have been a bad one for the team, but on a PR level, a nightmare.

[baddog]

but no.. surely this can't be true? Michael accepting PROST as his teammate? this is unthinkable, it goes against everything we have been told again and again.. ;P

anyone ACTUALLY think prost would have moved over for michael? or been asked to? of course not. Okay he might have been past his best which is why he decided not to do it, but as far as exploding myths goes this is a damned good one. bye bye the 'schumacher would never accept a good teammate' myth. how many are left?

Shaun

[Thank-U]

Originally posted by baddog
but no.. surely this can't be true? Michael accepting PROST as his teammate? this is unthinkable, it goes against everything we have been told again and again.. ;P

anyone ACTUALLY think prost would have moved over for michael? or been asked to? of course not. Okay he might have been past his best which is why he decided not to do it, but as far as exploding myths goes this is a damned good one. bye bye the 'schumacher would never accept a good teammate' myth. how many are left?

Shaun

You honor ;)

I don't see how the REALITY ;) that Schumacher would never accept a good teammate has become a "bye bye myth" because only of the fact that Prost was offered and turned down a drive at Ferrari in 1996.

Are we all clear about the facts? it is 1996, not 1988, 1996, end with a 6 Mille Neuf Cent Quatre Vingt Seize.

Already in 1993, when Prost retired he was beeing past his best years, he was WDC in 93 only because of a superior car and a rookie teammate.
If you look at Forix, you will find out that Damon has outpointed Prost in the second half of the season despite the fact that Hill had One more mechanical failure than Prost. (And I know your opinion on Damon)

Prost in 1996 at Ferrari ????
It would have been EXCELLENT for the show, I would have LOVED to see it, Ferrari and MS would have benefitted a LOT from it and maybe would have won the Championship earlier.

It would also have given us an indication (fuzzy but still interesting) of the real speed of MS compared to the previous generation big boys.
For example if Prost had outqualified MS over the season (I really doubt it would have happened), the WHOLE MS myth would have collapsed, on the other hand, if MS had outqualified Prost by an average of 1 sec, then I would have been impressed.

**** too bad we will never know.


But come on...

Do you really, honestly, think that Prost in 1996 (Nighteen Nighty Six) was a "good teammate"??? The kind that will really create a challenge to MS for the No1 spot at Ferrari?

If your answer is "Yes", then I'll write official request to Atlas to demote you from your "Judge" position because of lack of how do you call this "good judgement?"

[theMot]

haaahahahh Todd would cream his pants if this came true!

[baddog]

Originally posted by Thank-U


Do you really, honestly, think that Prost in 1996 (Nighteen Nighty Six) was a "good teammate"??? The kind that will really create a challenge to MS for the No1 spot at Ferrari?

If your answer is "Yes", then I'll write official request to Atlas to demote you from your "Judge" position because of lack of how do you call this "good judgement?"

No I was actually just taking the piss.

but in seriousness seeing as you said it.. you refer to michael never being prepared to accept a good teammate as a 'reality' but what is this really based on? the fact he has never had a teammate as good as he is? or more realistically a teammate who is the other leading driver at the time? well think about it. over schumachers career who have been his main rivals?

senna.. no way schumacher ever had the clout to block senna entering a team

hill.. hill never showed any inclination to want to join a team MS wa sin, and I never heard so much as a rumour that schumacher blocked such a move

berger.. left ferrari to avoid schumacher as a teammate

alesi.. schumacher wanted him as a teammate

villeneuve.. has said he would not join alongside schumacher. schumacher cant block what isnt on the table

hakkinen.. firmly entrenched in mclaren

coulthard.. likewise

who else in the last 7 years has been better than barrichello (dont think of barrichellos reputation NOW think of it pre-2000) or for that matter better than prost would probably have been in 1996 (speed doesnt go away entirely, and race smarts certainly never do)

Shaun

[MacFan]

Originally posted by Smooth
What he would have brought to Ferrari would have been a wealth of knowledge, and probably would have provided Schumacher with the tempermant he seems to have developed the last year or so a lot earlier.

I can see where you're coming from, but being Alain's teammate didn't exactly turn "Crazy Jean" into a model citizen

[Ross Stonefeld]

Prost was testing the 96 Mclaren, look at all that accomplished

[Frans]

yeah yeah, could you imagine a 4 time worldchampion SLAVE for the German driver to get HIS 3th title...?

Get real...

[A3]

Well, Frans, he said so himself....

I was ready to become Michael’s team-mate to help him become world champion.

[ebe]

That would have been great.

Alain as additional car developer for the reds. Prost probably would neither beat Schuey in qualy nor in races back then, but he knew that. It would not be his part to put MS under pressure, it would be his role to bring in his knowledge to Ferrari and to MS.
Sure, the media would bash a lot, but who knows maybe results would have come earlier.

[Thank-U]

Baddog,

So I did manage to piss you off

I just love it when you take it so seriously


On a more serious note,
One of the problems of Schumacher is that he will have to fight the ghost of Senna.

He never had a serious teammate for some reason:
- He did not want to?
- None of the serious guys wanted to?

We'll never know. And probably it will never happen: MS still has very few years (if any) of being top driver, and any new driver who might (if ever) beat him fare and square in the same equipment say in 2003, will not, in my eyes, be the next superstar.

One of the best thing to have witnessed was Senna taking the crown from prost in the same car.
I would have loved to see MS take the crown from Senna in the same car, and then some new guy take it from MS in 2002 also in the same car.

But most of all, I love it when you're pissed ;)

[baddog]

Originally posted by Thank-U
Baddog,

So I did manage to piss you off

I just love it when you take it so seriously


piss me off? huh? sorry to dissapoint ya but I was far from pissed off. my first post was a joke in reaction to prosts very surprising revelations (taking the piss is an english expression for having fun at others expense in case you a furner and unaware of such things) my reaction to yours was just initiating a discussion on the points you brought up. keep trying if you want to piss me off..

Im a very happy lil boy today in fact for two reasons. One I just got a very nice new job where I get to boss people around and buy expensive toys. the other is none of your business ;)

and stop that smoking itll kill ya ;)


On a more serious note,
One of the problems of Schumacher is that he will have to fight the ghost of Senna.

He never had a serious teammate for some reason:
- He did not want to?
- None of the serious guys wanted to?

We'll never know. And probably it will never happen: MS still has very few years (if any) of being top driver, and any new driver who might (if ever) beat him fare and square in the same equipment say in 2003, will not, in my eyes, be the next superstar.


I think its a little early to be talking about schumacher not being top guy in the near future. but no, we will never know for SURE about why some people havent teamed up with him, but really who are the 'serious' guys who havent got a damned solid reason for not having teamed up with him? villeneuve is about it I think and his reasons are personal and wholly on his side imho. can you point up anyone who would have been available as a teammate who 'mysteriously' hasnt become one? I'm intrigued to know.


One of the best thing to have witnessed was Senna taking the crown from prost in the same car.
I would have loved to see MS take the crown from Senna in the same car, and then some new guy take it from MS in 2002 also in the same car.

agree except 2002 is a little early ;)

keep smiling, I am