Alain Prost back in his Ferrari 643, 32 years later
At 68, Alain Prost still manages to look remarkably fit in his red Ferrari suit. 32 years after his controversial exit from the Scuderia, the four-time French F1 world champion was back at the wheel of his Ferrari 643 at the Gulf Historic Dubai Grand Prix Revival.
The Dubai GP Revival is a gathering event comparable to the Le Mans Classic. In fact, it was only the third edition of this event. The 2023 edition of the Dubai GP Revival has nothing to envy to other events of its kind, considering the hundred cars entered.
Alain Prost was a driver for the Scuderia Ferrari for only two seasons. In 1990, Prost left McLaren as the reigning world champion. McLaren had been his team since 1984, but two years of rivalry with Ayrton Senna, culminating in the infamous collision at Suzuka in 1989, had taken its toll. Prost preferred to leave.
Wearing the number 1 on his Ferrari 641, Prost embarked on a strong campaign. He would win five Grand Prix races and be in contention for the championship until the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, where controversy followed right after the start. Ayrton Senna in the McLaren eliminated Prost in the first corner, sealing the world title.
In 1991, Prost found the Ferrari 643 much less competitive for the second part of the season. The Ferrari 643 with a V12 engine had a promising start in its first race at the French Grand Prix, where Prost finished second. But second place was the best result he would achieve. Prost compared the handling of the 643 to that of a truck, which led Ferrari to dismiss him from the team after the Japanese Grand Prix.
During the revival of the Gulf Historic Dubai Grand Prix last weekend in Dubai, Prost took the wheel of his former Formula 1 car. The Frenchman is known for his complete lack of interest in anything from the past, so this is truly something special. He was reunited with one of his former Ferrari mechanics for the occasion. And wearing a red suit, Prost set off for a few demonstration laps. It’s clear that Prost and the Ferrari 643 are unlikely to ever see eye to eye. After just three laps, the V12 engine gives up.
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