At the Goodwood Festival of Speed over the weekend, four-time Formula 1 world champion Alain Prost expressed admiration for Oscar Piastri’s measured and strategic driving approach. Prost, who was instrumental in getting Piastri admitted to the Renault junior academy early in his career, noted similarities between Piastri’s style and his own methodical way of racing.

Reflecting on his involvement, Prost said he had to convince Renault to accept Piastri into their development program despite initial resistance. Observing Piastri competing in Formula 3 and later Formula 2, Prost appreciated the young driver’s careful timing for overtaking and overall cleverness on the track, qualities he considers crucial for sustained progress in motorsport.

Prost’s Personal Connection to Piastri Spurs Confidence

Prost revealed,

“I know Oscar much better because I was the one to push Renault to bring him into the academy a long time ago. They did not want to.”

— Alain Prost

He continued,

“I saw him driving in Formula 3 or even before, and then Formula 2. I like the way he behaves — a little bit like me, thinking about when to do the right manoeuvre for overtaking and being a little bit more clever. I like him.”

Elaborating on his faith in Piastri’s potential, Prost added,

“You never know what’s going to happen, but these types of drivers normally, they can make a progression. If it’s only the driving skill, sometimes they are in a plateau. So I did not do a mistake.”

McLaren’s Strong 2025 Season and Team Dynamic

Prost, affectionately known as ‘The Professor’ during his career for his methodical strategy, spoke as Piastri prepared for the second half of the 2025 season. Currently, Piastri leads McLaren teammate Lando Norris by a narrow margin in the driver standings. The Woking-based team has registered nine wins in the first 12 rounds and remains at the top of both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships as they approach the Belgian Grand Prix.

With a long history at McLaren, where Prost began his F1 career in 1980 and made 107 starts, he expressed pride in seeing the team’s resurgence. He highlighted the positive relationship between Norris and Piastri, which so far has been beneficial for the squad’s overall performance.

Prost remarked,

“It’s my family, because I started with McLaren”

and added,

“I had an unbelievable time at McLaren, even if I finished with a difficult ’89, but remember that I came back also for two years, [in] 95 [and] 96 in a different role. So I’m always very close to this team.”

Championship Rivalries and the Challenge of Team Leadership

Despite the current harmony, Prost cautioned that intra-team title battles can become complicated, especially when a team maintains a clear advantage over competitors. He explained that when a team and its drivers hold a solid lead, they often allow teammates to race freely, which benefits the sport through competitive battles.

Prost observed,

“The championship, that is very difficult when two drivers are fighting for the title but if they have enough advantage with the other teams and drivers, they are going to let them drive and fight which is the best for the sport.”

He further added,

“If it’s getting closer and one driver or team is much closer, then it’s going to become more difficult. At the moment, I don’t think they will have this problem.”

Reflections on Prost’s Own Racing Battles

Drawing parallels to his past, Prost compared the current McLaren rivalry to his 1988 championship contest with teammate Ayrton Senna and his 1986 title fight against the Williams duo of Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet. In 1988, Prost said he and Senna nearly won all the season’s races, focusing purely on their internal competition.

He explained,

“When we were fighting with Ayrton we almost won all the races in ’88,”

adding,

“We honestly did not care at all about the other drivers or the teams.”

Prost also recalled his 1986 championship season, where despite having a less competitive car, his team’s cohesion and consistent performance allowed him to claim the title against the dominant Williams team.

He remembered,

“I won the championship in ’86 because Nigel and Nelson were fighting, sharing points, and my car was very less competitive. But at the end, because of the work of the team [and] the cohesion in the team, we had a fantastic year in ’86.”

He concluded,

“That’s my best championship, and the best for the team all together.”

Looking Ahead to the Belgian Grand Prix

The 2025 Formula 1 season continues with the Belgian Grand Prix scheduled from July 25 to 28, where McLaren hopes to maintain their momentum. Prost’s praise of Piastri’s calculated driving underlines the rising star’s potential to make a significant impact in the championship battle as the season progresses.

Our Reader’s Queries

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A. The number 17 is the only Formula 1 driver number that has been officially retired. This honors Jules Bianchi, a French driver. Bianchi was wearing #17 when he had a tragic accident during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.

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A. Lewis Hamilton, a British race car driver born in 1985, competes in Formula One for the Mercedes team. Earlier in his career, he raced for McLaren. Openly talking about his experience with ADHD, Hamilton also shares his wide range of interests and hobbies.

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A. Drivers can select their own permanent numbers ranging from 0 to 99, except for number 1. Only the World Drivers’ Champion has the option to use number 1 but is not obligated to choose it.

Q. What F1 drivers have ADHD?

A. Lewis Hamilton. Born in 1985, Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton is a British race car driver who competes in Formula One. He currently races for Mercedes and has previously driven for McLaren. Hamilton openly talks about having ADHD and shares his wide-ranging interests and passions.