108 replies to this topic

[garoidb]

Following which Piquet would have slandered Alain’s wife, or some such.

 

Alain, on the other hand, would be highly scrupulous about the sensitivities of other people's wives. I think Nelson could have accepted being beaten by Alain in much the same manner as Niki did. He would still have added lustre to his career. Marlboro and Ron would have had all the World Champions on the grid in their team and Ayrton would not have figured much at Lotus. Perhaps he would have gone to Ferrari or Williams in that timeframe and challenged the two older champions from there. 

[Zippel]

Alain, on the other hand, would be highly scrupulous about the sensitivities of other people's wives. . 

 

So the rumours go.... 

[aportinga]

I too think this.

 

Prost has repeatedly stated that he lobbied Dennis to push for Ayrton, Piquet was older, Senna was the better bet long term as Alain was already thinking about his career most driving. 

 

I wonder - with Alain doing some "management" work at Ferrari, later being an advisor and eventually running his own team, was Alain just thinking that it made better sense for McLaren instead of really taking a deep look into the potential of Senna challenging him?

 

Or was Senna really just another driver in the eyes of Prost at the time?

[flatlandsman]

I think in interviews Alain has said he felt a real part of McLaren, and one of the reasons he left was that that came back to bite him and he felt some in the team, certainly Ron and obviously Honda were pulling more for Ayrton, we will never know. i find it interesting that he has had very little to do with mcLaren since driving there, despite the fact he very nearly came back to drive for them.  Yet he has had certain dealings with Ferrari and obviously Renault where he left in a storm and was never very nice about once he did leave!

 

To answer the last part I think as I say Alain considered he was a lifelong member of the team and Ayrton was the logical choice, he did not presumably know the weird areas he would be forced to go to with Ayrton, maybe if he did he would have pushed against it.

 

I do sincerely believe Alain is a good man, and has been know to be a little naive, it might sound odd from what we know now, but look at his history with journalists, he was swept along with the France Prost thing and hugely let down too, I think he is a genuine guy and often a little naive and maybe this was a time too. 

[Zippel]

I think in interviews Alain has said he felt a real part of McLaren, and one of the reasons he left was that that came back to bite him and he felt some in the team, certainly Ron and obviously Honda were pulling more for Ayrton, we will never know. i find it interesting that he has had very little to do with mcLaren since driving there, despite the fact he very nearly came back to drive for them.  Yet he has had certain dealings with Ferrari and obviously Renault where he left in a storm and was never very nice about once he did leave!

 

 

 

Prost had an active role with McLaren at the end of 95/96 as a technical advisor, even testing the car after Mikas Adelaide accident. I thought he also bought parts from McLaren for his Prost cars at one stage but could be wrong.

[aportinga]

I think in interviews Alain has said he felt a real part of McLaren, and one of the reasons he left was that that came back to bite him and he felt some in the team, certainly Ron and obviously Honda were pulling more for Ayrton, we will never know. i find it interesting that he has had very little to do with mcLaren since driving there, despite the fact he very nearly came back to drive for them.  Yet he has had certain dealings with Ferrari and obviously Renault where he left in a storm and was never very nice about once he did leave!

 

To answer the last part I think as I say Alain considered he was a lifelong member of the team and Ayrton was the logical choice, he did not presumably know the weird areas he would be forced to go to with Ayrton, maybe if he did he would have pushed against it.

 

I do sincerely believe Alain is a good man, and has been know to be a little naive, it might sound odd from what we know now, but look at his history with journalists, he was swept along with the France Prost thing and hugely let down too, I think he is a genuine guy and often a little naive and maybe this was a time too. 

 

Yes so I was wondering if Alain figured - 2-3 WDC with McLaren, pass the wheel to Senna and that he'd take up some sort of position with the team?

[aportinga]

Prost had an active role with McLaren at the end of 95/96 as a technical advisor, even testing the car after Mikas Adelaide accident. I thought he also bought parts from McLaren for his Prost cars at one stage but could be wrong.

 

I remember this - ESPN had a segment in a show called "RPM". I was really hoping he'd return but seeing in hindsight - that 95 McLaren was just awful. I felt pretty bad for Mansell.

Edited by aportinga, 01 December 2023 - 16:14.

[realracer200]

I remember this - ESPN had a segment in a show called "RPM". I was really hoping he'd return but seeing in hindsight - that 95 McLaren was just awful. I felt pretty bad for Mansell.

 

How is a car that finishes second at Suzuka of all places "just awful"?

[airbox]

How is a car that finishes second at Suzuka of all places "just awful"?

It was if you compare it to McLaren cars from previous years. Bear in mind both Hakkinen and Blundell together managed 30 points that year. Less than Berger got on his own in 6th place in the Championship. They were over 100 points behind Benetton and scored less than they managed in 94 with the Peugeot engine. 

 

Even taking their gradual loss of competitiveness against Williams and Benetton in the early to mid 90's it was a big drop in performance - their worst year in the constructors championship since 1981.