Formula One legend Alain Prost has revealed he could quit social media amid continuing abuse over his historic rivalry with Ayrton Senna, as he hit out at a new Netflix series.
Prost and Senna had one of the most iconic rivalries in F1 history, with the pair having a tense relationship when team-mates at McLaren in 1988 and 1989.
The rivals had notable clashes at the Japanese Grand Prix in both 1989 and 1990.
The drivers collided at the final chicane in 1989, putting them both out of the race. While Senna restarted, he was controversially disqualified after the race for rejoining the track by cutting a chicane.
His disqualification confirmed Prost as world champion.
The following year, Senna crashed into Prost at the first corner and with the Frenchman failing to finish, led to the Brazilian clinching the title.
Alain Prost, left, has labelled a Netflix series titled ‘Senna’ as being ‘complete bulls***’
Prost has expressed frustration at ‘fabricated’ stories of his relationship with Ayrton Senna
Prost and Senna famously clashed during their careers as the pair fought for world titles
Despite their pursuit of success, Prost and Senna had grown closer prior to the Brazilian’s tragic death in a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola in 1994.
Prost and Senna’s rivalry was explored in the 2010 film ‘Senna’, where despite the Frenchman’s involvement he expressed frustration at how their relationship was depicted.
The four-time world champion has now hit out at Netflix’s depiction in a new series by the same name.
Prost, 70, has claimed the Brazilian made series ‘Senna’ had ‘completely fictionalised’ their relationship and suggested he had been depicted as a ‘bad guy’.
‘Bulls***, bulls***, complete bulls***, almost everything has been completely fictionalised,’ Prost told Motorsport.com.
‘I’ve only seen a few pictures and heard quite a lot of feedback. As with the film Senna, the first one, which I probably spent even more time on than my own documentary, and this biopic, it’s obvious that I won’t be satisfied, of course.
“Because there is always a good guy and a bad guy. I know a little bit about the story that is being told and yes, it is a biopic, it is fictionalised.
‘But unfortunately, a few repetitive stories are inserted that are totally made up, just totally wrong.’
The Netlfix series follows Senna’s career and his tragic death at the San Marino Grand Prix
The relationship between Prost and Senna had thawed prior to the Brazilian’s death
Prost has suggested he made come off social media due to abuse nearly 30 years on
Prost has claimed he could opt to leave social media amid continued abuse from Brazilian fans over the rivalry nearly 30 years on.
‘I can’t not think about Ayrton, fortunately or unfortunately,’ Prost said.
‘For example, I’m considering turning off my Instagram, because I get messages every day, really every day without exception – from time to time there’s a hateful one, that can happen.
‘My biggest fan base on social media is from Brazil, of all places, so I’m forced to think of him.
‘Indirectly, I’ve been living around this story for 30 years, and it will probably stay that way for the rest of my life.’
F1’s governing body, the FIA, has come out in support of Prost and called for an end to the social media abuse.
‘As a former world champion in his sport, Alain Prost should not be driven off social media due to online abuse,’ the FIA’s United Against Online Abuse campaign told PlanetF1.
‘His experience highlights the harsh reality faced by sportsmen and women at all levels—daily abuse, harassment, and even threats.
‘Under the FIA’s leadership, UAOA is developing the educational, technological, and regulatory solutions needed to protect competitors, officials, and fans to ensure that sport remains a place of strong but fair and inclusive competition.’
