Alain Prost reveals how he stopped Alpine from making another Oscar Piastri blunder before iconic McLaren exit

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Alain Prost is one of the greatest drivers ever to race in Formula 1, having secured four titles during his career.

The likes of Nigel Mansell, Nelson Piquet and the great Ayrton Senna all failed to win as many drivers’ championships as Alain Prost during his remarkable time in Formula 1.

Jackie Stewart admitted he was glad to have retired before racing against Prost, such was his ability to dominate F1 races.

He retired with four world championships and 51 victories to his name, and has watched only four drivers surpass that winning tally since his retirement.

Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel have all added their names to Formula 1 history since Prost stepped away from the sport in 1993.

McLaren star Oscar Piastri is the latest driver trying to emulate their achievements and is currently in pole position to win his first championship this year.

He faces a difficult fight against teammate Lando Norris, but Prost has now told the remarkable story of how he first discovered the Australian and how Renault, now Alpine, nearly made another blunder regarding his future.

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

Alain Prost says Renault ‘didn’t want to’ sign Oscar Piastri before his intervention

Prost was being interviewed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed by Karun Chandhok, and the subject of the current drivers’ championship came up.

Chandhok didn’t ask Prost to pick a winner, but talking about Piastri, he said: “I know Oscar much better because I was the one to push Renault to bring him into the academy a long time ago.

“They didn’t want to! Yeah, I saw him driving in promotion [categories] like Formula 3 or even before and in Formula 2.

“I like the way he is, he’s 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, you never know what’s going to happen, but these types of drivers, they can make a progression.

“Some with their driving skill, they reach a plateau, and I do not see that type of mistake [with Oscar].

“I don’t know Lando very much, but honestly, for this type of championship, the best should win, and that’s it!”

READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend

How Oscar Piastri feels about being compared to Alain Prost

This isn’t the first time that Prost has suggested that he sees himself in the current championship leader.

In an interview with Auto Motor und Sport, Piastri was asked about the comparison and said: “It’s a comparison that honours me, especially because Alain Prost was one of the most successful drivers in our sport.

“Of course, I wasn’t born when he was driving, so I don’t have the whole picture, but from what I hear or read about him, I do see some similarities between the two of us.

“Prost had a very smooth and rounded driving style. He was very precise in his work. I can see that in myself as well.

“I spoke to him a few times when I was still at Alpine. It was incredibly interesting to talk to him, and he also gave me a few tips.”

Piastri can be fierce behind the scenes, and his frustrations came to the fore at the British Grand Prix after a safety car penalty cost him victory.

Zak Brown is keen for Norris and Piastri to battle it out for the title as long as they aren’t under threat from any of their rivals in either championship.

If Piastri really is the next coming of Prost, he will enjoy a head-to-head fight with a driver in the same car, as that turned out to be one of the Frenchman’s specialities.