Alain Prost has confirmed that he does not hold any position in the new Renault Sport Formula One Team, as he believes that it could have created some confusion in terms of image.
The four-time world champion had been tipped for a senior management role similar to the one former McLaren team-mate Niki Lauda occupies at Mercedes.
Although Prost attended Renault’s F1 launch last Wednesday, the ‘Professor’ intends to focus on the many commitments he already has. These include being a brand ambassador for the French constructor since 2012, while also overseeing its foray into Formula E as Renault e.dams co-founder.
What's more, the 60-year-old serves as a TV consultant for French broadcaster Canal+, and hints that he might start featuring on Channel 4 as well.
“I decided for sure [not to be with Renault F1], not so long ago,” Prost told MotorSports Talk.
“I prefer to be away from the operational work because it's too complicated anyway with Formula E and the ambassador role and Canal+ and maybe Channel 4, different things that I have to do.
“I cannot do things everywhere, it does not work anyway. I think also the image could create more problems than advantages, especially for the management. They have a structure.
“It's going to be tough at the beginning. I'll let them work and I'll still keep my role of ambassador and different things.”
Prost came tantalisingly close to winning his and Renault’s F1 first world championship in 1983 but ultimately lost out to Brabham’s Nelson Piquet by a mere two points.
Ten years later, the Frenchman would secure his fourth and final title racing a Renault-powered Renault before bowing out of the sport.
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