F1 legend Alain Prost has revealed he played a crucial behind-the-scenes role in helping current Formula 1 championship leader Oscar Piastri kickstart his F1 career – admitting he personally pushed Renault to enroll the young Australian in Alpine’s driver academy.
The four-time world champion and former Alpine non-executive director opened up about his influence during an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend, speaking to former F1 driver Karun Chandhok on the balcony of the famous Goodwood House.
Despite initial resistance from Renault, Prost’s belief in the young driver’s potential proved decisive.
“I know Oscar much better because I was the one to push Renault to bring him in the academy a long time ago,” Prost said. “They did not want to. I saw him driving in Formula 3 or even 4, and then Formula 2.”
Piastri eventually joined the Alpine Academy in January 2020 and went on to win the Formula 2 title the following year.
But despite the support from Prost and his steady rise through the ranks, Piastri’s time with the French outfit ended in a controversial split when he signed with McLaren for the 2023 season, a move legally challenged by Alpine to its detriment.
Now, just two years on, the 24-year-old finds himself leading the Formula 1 championship – eight points clear of McLaren team-mate Lando Norris – after 12 rounds of a dramatic 2025 season.
Prost Sees Shades of… Prost in Piastri
Reflecting on Piastri’s on-track approach, Prost admitted he sees a bit of his own measured style in the young driver’s racecraft.
“I like the way he behaves, you know, a little bit like me – thinking about when to do the right manoeuvre for overtaking and being a little bit more clever,” Prost said.
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“I like him, you know. You never know what's going to happen, but this type of driver, normally they can make a progression.
“With some, if it's only the driving skill, sometimes they are in a plateau. But I don't know Lando very much. But honestly, for this type of championship, the best should win, and that's it.”
Tension Building but McLaren Keeping Fight Open
With half of the 2025 F1 season completed, the championship fight between Piastri and Norris has captivated fans, intensified by their intra-team rivalry at McLaren.
A collision in Canada, which forced Norris to retire, highlighted the intensity of their competition. Yet, McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown remains committed to allowing his drivers to race freely, emphasizing clean and competitive racing.
©McLaren
“It’s the same rules,” Brown told the media at Silverstone, quoted by F1.com.
“Race each other hard, race each other clean, and try and get as many points on the board for the team. Then it’s up to them to decide who is in front of who.”
Brown praised the drivers’ relationship, noting, “I think the relationship they have is fantastic. We’ve put a lot of time and effort into building our team and having chemistry within the team, and that starts with the drivers.”
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