Jackie Stewart explains who he thinks was the ‘better’ Formula 1 driver – Ayrton Senna or Alain Prost

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The age-old debate about who out of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost was the better Formula 1 driver is one that may never see a definitive answer.

The F1 grid was packed with talent in the 1980s and 1990s, but Senna and Prost were arguably on a completely different level.

Between them, the drivers won seven world championships and 92 Grand Prix and fought in one of the fiercest rivalries ever seen in F1 history.

Prost won his first title in 1985 – the year after Senna made his debut with Toleman. The Brazilian had to wait until 1988 for his first title, but the Frenchman had already grabbed his second two years earlier.

The Japanese Grand Prix would see two season-defining crashes between the pair. They collided as McLaren teammates in 1989 which saw Senna be disqualified and Prost win the championship.

The rivals crashed again in 1990 – this time with Prost at Ferrari – at turn one which saw the Brazilian grab his second title. Senna was in talks to join Ferrari in 1991, but Prost blocked the deal and prevented the pair from being teammates again.

Jackie Stewart felt F1 fans overlooked ‘genius’ Alain Prost in Ayrton Senna debate

Senna won his third championship that year, while Prost went on to win the 1993 championship with Williams and retired at the end of the season. The Brazilian took his place in 1994 and tragically lost his life in his fourth race with the team at Imola.

Prost achieved more wins and titles than his rival, but for many, Senna’s impact on the sport is hard to forget.

The Brazilian incredible driving ability and skill in the rain made him one of the greatest drivers in the world. Charles Leclerc says Senna is his ‘only idol’, referring to him as a ‘legend’.

But three-time champion Sir Jackie Stewart felt Prost was ‘overlooked’ in the debate. Speaking on the Beyond The Grid podcast, the 85-year-old said while Senna was sometimes faster, Prost was the ‘better’ of the two.

READ MORE: All to know about Alain Prost including Ayrton Senna rivalry and failed F1 team

“Alain Prost, I think, was a genius at driving a car,” he said.

“He had fewer hand movements on a steering wheel than any other driver other than maybe Fangio or Jim Clark. I think he was just one of the best drivers ever in the world.

“And he was overlooked by the fact that everybody thought Senna was the best driver. He was sometimes the fastest driver, but I think Alain Prost was the better driver”.

Ayrton Senna wanted to finish his F1 career at Ferrari but never got the chance

The fact Senna did not join Ferrari in 1991 was perhaps a blessing in disguise given that he went on to dominate the championship with McLaren.

But while it never happened, the Brazilian did come very close to joining the Maranello outfit as discussions had been ongoing before his tragic accident in 1994.

Luca di Montezemolo previously said Senna wanted to finish his career at Ferrari, but never got the opportunity to. Lewis Hamilton shares Senna’s views as he looks set to end his record-breaking career with the famous red team after leaving Mercedes.

While Senna did not drive for Ferrari, Prost did but was beaten by the Brazilian in the McLaren in 1990. The pair were fierce rivals on track, but both had huge respect for one another, evidenced by Prost’s tribute to Senna on the 30th anniversary of his death.