Prost: Verstappen is a great champion, he has shown he is the best

Prost, like Verstappen now, a four-time F1 world champion and racing legend. Known as 'The Professor' for his methodical and analytical approach to racing, he remains one of the sport’s most respected figures. With four F1 world titles, he knows the challenges of building success across different generations.

Asked about Verstappen equalling his tally of four WDC titles, Prost had no hesitation in recognising the Dutchman's achievements: "Well, it’s normal when it’s someone like him—a very fast driver who showed from his first laps on track that he has something special.

"Verstappen is a great champion, he has shown that he is the best. So sharing four titles with someone like him doesn’t create any problems for me. I’m sure he can surpass me, and in the next few years, he certainly will," reckoned the 69-year-old Frenchman.

Gerhard Berger recently compared Verstappen’s approach to that of Niki Lauda, highlighting his no-nonsense working method and clear vision of what he wants from the car. Given Prost’s experience racing alongside Lauda at McLaren, he was asked whether the comparison holds up.

Prost commented: "Let's be clear, I never want to compare drivers from yesterday with those of today. Max is like Niki in terms of being direct, no doubt about that. When you asked Lauda something, the answer was always honest. Verstappen is a very catchy guy, as the English say—he gets a grip on what he says. I can’t judge the rest."

Reflecting on the last season, Prost acknowledged the shifts in competitiveness but warned that consistency will be crucial in 2025: "It was a very long championship. We saw it divided into two or three parts—at the beginning with Verstappen’s domination, then McLaren’s comeback, and Ferrari’s victories. The fight for the constructors' title was very interesting."

Prost ventured: "This season, it will be important to be very consistent, make few mistakes, and maximise every opportunity. But it won’t be easy in a season with 24 Grands Prix to maintain high concentration and performance."

Not alone in the F1 world, Prost has long been critical of the sport's expanding calendar, believing the current schedule is excessive: "For me, it’s always too many. Even 17 or 18 races were already a lot. Some might say that in our time we did many test days as well.

"I’ve always had the same idea: I prefer test days to too many races. Especially for young drivers—it allows them to learn without relying on simulators. And for sponsors, test days provide more time for engagement rather than rushing through a packed race schedule," explained the F1 legend.

Prost was F1 World Champion in 1985, 1986, 1989 and 1993, acknowledged as one of the sport’s greatest drivers. Across a career spanning from 1980 to 1993, he secured 51 Grand Prix victories, a record at the time of his retirement, along with 106 podiums and 33 pole positions. He won F1 titles with McLaren and Williams, while also competing for Renault and Ferrari.

As Formula 1 prepares for another gruelling season, Prost’s rare [but greatly appreciated by the Editorial team of GRANDPRIX247] insights serve as a reminder of the sport’s evolving nature and the challenges facing today’s drivers.