4 June 2026 09:00 (UTC)
We’ll give you one guess which legendary pair made the final of our vote to name McLaren’s greatest former driver
It could never have been anyone else, could it?
Across six fiery seasons, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost captivated the motor racing world, forging a generation-defining rivalry that has gone down in history as one of the sport’s most famous.
Beginning in 1988, their first year as McLaren teammates, and intensifying in 1989, their battle transcended the track - a clash of two extraordinarily gifted, fiercely determined competitors with contrasting styles: Senna, defined by raw, aggressive speed and emotion, and Prost, whose approach was built on calculated precision, smooth consistency, and logic. Between them, there was deep respect, but no love lost.
Their rivalry continued into 1990 after Prost’s move to Ferrari, following tensions that had already boiled over in the 1989 season, culminating in their collision at Suzuka. The crash secured Prost the Championship and became one of the defining moments in Formula 1.
Between them, they won six Formula 1 World Championships while driving for McLaren, helping to create some of the most iconic moments in the team’s history. They are remembered not only as two of McLaren’s greatest drivers, but as two of the sport’s all-time greats.
In the lead-up to our 1000th Grand Prix, we’ve been asking fans to vote for McLaren’s greatest former driver. A list of 22 race winners - excluding Lando and Oscar, as this vote is all about celebrating those who previously raced in McLaren colours - has been narrowed down to just two following three hotly contested knockout rounds.
We’re excited to announce that Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost have reached the final, having seen off Lewis Hamilton and Mika Häkkinen in the semi-finals. Now, they go head-to-head once more, with a place at the summit of McLaren Racing history at stake.
Voting for the final is now open and will close on 10 June. Pick your favourite from this final tie. To learn more about each driver, scroll down and dive into the story of their McLaren careers.
Let the battle commence.
McLaren statistics World Championships: 1988, 1990, 1991 Grands Prix wins: 35 Grands Prix: 96
Ayrton Senna actually tested for McLaren Racing during his pre-Formula 1 career, but declined an offer that would have committed him to the team upon stepping up to F1. Instead, he began his F1 career with Toleman, before moving to McLaren in 1988 via Honda-powered Lotus.
Ayrton and Honda arrived at McLaren at the same time, forming one of the most dominant partnerships in Formula 1 history. Alongside Alain Prost, Ayrton drove the McLaren-Honda MP4/4 to victory in 15 of the 16 races that season. Ayrton won eight races to Alain’s seven, clinching the title by three points. After losing out to Alain in 1989, at the height of their fierce rivalry, Ayrton reclaimed the crown in 1990 and 1991 following the Frenchman’s departure to Ferrari.
Ayrton’s reputation at McLaren was that of an intensely driven competitor. He is often credited as one of the first drivers to take diet and physical preparation truly seriously, pioneering a more professional approach to fitness in Formula 1. His intensity softened somewhat with the arrival of Gerhard Berger in 1990, who helped bring out a more playful side to the Brazilian, though his competitive edge never faded.
McLaren statistics World Championships: 1985, 1986, 1989 Grands Prix wins: 30 Grands Prix: 207
Alain Prost had been courted by much of the Formula 1 grid before electing to join McLaren in 1980. He left after a single season, returning in 1984 alongside Niki Lauda. Over a six-year spell with the team, he amassed 30 victories and three Drivers’ Championships.
After narrowly missing the title by two points in 1983 with Renault, and by just half a point to Niki in 1984, Alain made no mistake in 1985, dominating the season to secure the Championship with two races remaining. He went on to win further titles in 1986 and 1989, during which time he formed one half of Formula 1’s most iconic intra-team rivalry with Ayrton Senna, culminating in their infamous collision in the decisive 1989 Japanese Grand Prix.
During his time at McLaren, Alain earned the nickname ‘Le Professeur’ for his calm, cerebral approach to racing, though that was not always his early reputation. Paired with Niki, he began as the younger attacker, learning from his more experienced teammate. Niki’s measured, analytical style helped shape Alain’s own approach, as he refined his craft into something more controlled and methodical. The contrast between Alain’s calculation and Ayrton’s instinctive aggression defined one of the sport’s most compelling rivalries.
