The Death of Ayrton Senna: the two faces of Alain Prost
645How Alain Prost tricked Ayrton to believe he - gracefully - granted the Williams seat to him, instead of being compelled to do so by Renault.
Renault demanded Senna and when Prost was comunicated about the decision, Prost went ahead of Williams and told Ayrton he wanted to retire, when Prost actually was running away from driving another nightmare season against Ayrton, in the same team.
A grateful Ayrton then started to make amends about one of the fiercest sporting rivalry of all time.
Renault wanted Ayrton Senna driving for Willians at all costs as the Senna Family had introduced the Audi brand in Brazil with great success.
So Ayrton could act as a Renault Embassador in Brazil.
Renault came to start operation in Brazil in 1997 and in 2012 the country became the second largest market for the French Company.
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For Google translation.
0:10 Frank Williams wanted to partner Prost with a new team mate for 1994, Ayrton Senna.
“When I signed the contract with Frank [Williams], I’ve never asked – in all my career – to be the #1 in the team. Never had an advantage. The only thing I ask you – back in the Jan / Dec, the year before – please:
I want to fight against Ayrton Senna, please, but not in the same team.
Frank said: no problem, I understand that very well .
I had a two year contract.
And then Frank contacted me in July, he called and said: can I see you ?
Then he tried to explain that he had pressure from Renault and he wanted to have Ayrton…
[And I said] Please no… we have a contract, we have a contract and you know why we have a contract… no way, I can not accept it.
And then I felt more and more and more pressure.
And then in August he called me and said OK, we made the deal.
I said OK, no problem.
I was happy… I was not very happy, but at least we have cut the deal.
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Senna interview at Spa, Belgium weekend.
August 29, 1993
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2:30 Prost or Piquet ?
Prost Forever.
When Ayrton decided to leave McLaren after 1993 – after fighting his boss [Ron Dennis] -
Ayrton wanted to race for any other team.
Ayrton then decided to take a sabatical and not race in 1994 - irony of destiny.
And I [Galisteu] told him [Ayrton]: I know you, you are crazy, you won’t stand it.
Then I called Braguinha [a banker friend] asking for help and Ayrton got desperate, changed his mind and called all teams, offering to race for free.
But all team deals were closed by then and there was no place for him.
Out of nowhere, Prost called Ayrton personally and said: I heard you want to race… and FYI I want to retire.
You can race in my place.
So Prost left Williams – in the middle of his two year contract - and Senna came to occupy his place for the 1994 season.
I told this story in my book, few people know about it.
Prost came to Ayrton’s funeral but Piquet didn’t.
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Prost announces his retirement from Williams.
September 26, 1993
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6:28 Ayrton talking to french TV TF1, where Prost was a comentator, from inside the car, in that tragic weekend.
"A special hello to my dear friend Alain.
We all miss you, Alain."
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6:38 Prost: You know… if I had to do it again I would do exactly the same thing.
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Interview with Senna's Karting Boss from DAP, Angelo Parilla.