Alain Prost, the Professor himself, has unleashed a scathing critique of the recent Netflix series chronicling the life of his legendary rival, Ayrton Senna.
The six-part biographic series has drawn criticism for its dramatic liberties, and Prost, whose character features prominently in the story, has joined the chorus of dissent.
Few rivalries in the history of Formula 1 have burned as fiercely as that of Prost and Senna. Their duels throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s defined an era filled with controversy, drama, and some of the greatest wheel-to-wheel racing ever witnessed.
However, despite their intense on-track battles leaving the pair at odds with each other, the two legends reconciled before Senna’s tragic death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
Now, over three decades after that fateful day at Imola, Prost has voiced his strong disapproval of the recent Netflix series, criticizing its portrayal of Senna and their storied rivalry.
Prost Blasts Inaccurate Storytelling
Speaking to RMC Motori, Prost did not hold back in his condemnation of the series.
“I’m sure Ayrton wouldn’t like it, not least because it shows a lack of sensitivity,” he said, expressing disappointment in the way events have been dramatized.
“It’s a great story and you shouldn’t tell things that weren’t true out of thin air.”
The four-time world champion also took issue with what he perceives as a commercial exploitation of Senna’s legacy.
“If you have to do something commercial, it’s not nice to do it in Senna’s name. I don’t like it and I don’t accept it.”
Despite the Senna family’s involvement in the production – his sister, Viviane, stated in 2020 that “it is very special to be able to announce that we will tell the story that only a few people know about him” – Prost’s concerns suggest that not everyone agrees with how this legacy has been presented.
Also Critical of ‘Senna’ Movie
Prost’s frustrations with dramatized portrayals of his rivalry with Senna are not new.
The Frenchman was already critical of the 2010 documentary Senna, calling it “a fake” and arguing that it misrepresented the true nature of his relationship with the Brazilian star.
Speaking at a conference in Paris in 2020, ten years after the documentary’s release, Prost stated:
“I resent the film that was done. They could have really told a fabulous story, because there was what happened when we were racing and after [I retired].”
One of Prost’s biggest grievances was how the film omitted key moments that demonstrated the pair’s reconciliation.
He specifically pointed out the exclusion of a message from Senna at Imola in 1994, where the Brazilian warmly addressed him on French television while commentating an onboard lap.
“The film infers that his last message ‘We all miss you Alain’ was fake. Well, I think the film was fake.”
The exclusion of such moments, according to Prost, deprived the film of the deeper, more human story of how two fierce rivals eventually became friends.
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Following their intense battles on track, Senna and Prost rekindled their relationship at the end of the 1993 season, when Senna pulled Prost onto the podium in Australia.
“After that podium, Ayrton started talking to me again,” Prost recalled. “He would call me once or twice a week. Sometimes for nothing, and sometimes for advice.
“It lasted until Imola. We became friends and close. It was the start of a new period that I didn’t think would have been possible. I’ve got incredible memories of it.”
With Senna sparking debate among motorsport fans, Prost’s outspoken critique adds fuel to the ongoing discussion.
Has the series done justice to one of Formula 1’s most revered figures, or has it strayed too far from the truth in the name of entertainment?
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