“A incapable leader”: Alain Prost tackles Laurent Rossi

For a year and a half, Alain Prost had remained discreet. The Frenchman spoke very little to express his views on Formula 1. His last notable intervention was during the Monaco Grand Prix, which he commented on Canal +. But the four-time world champion has just broken his silence.

In the columns of L’Équipe, the former member of Alpine spoke out about the situation of the Blues. « I love this team and seeing it in this state today saddens and disappoints me. It deserves better and has all the assets to succeed,” laments Alain Prost. Here, the Frenchman lays the groundwork for the slow descent into hell of the team based in Enstone and Viry-Châtillon.

While Alpine offered remarkable performances at the beginning of the season, the level has collapsed in several Grand Prix since then. With two consecutive double retirements and McLaren’s rebound, the Blues are only in sixth place in the constructors’ championship. While the stated objective remains fourth place.

« The best example of the Dunning-Kruger effect »

The native of Lorette, in the Loire, continues by indicating that he has heard more than once that Formula 1 (F1) was a simple sport that could be managed from home by men in positions ». These comments would then have been heard in the hallways of Renault’s headquarters, in the suburbs of Paris.

According to the man with 51 F1 victories, the difficulties of Alpine are related to its former boss, Laurent Rossi. The one who fired Alain Prost in January 2022.

« Laurent Rossi is the perfect example of the Dunning-Kruger effect, that of an incapable leader who believes they can overcome their incompetence through their arrogance and lack of humanity towards their troops, he declares. « The former head of Alpine for eighteen months believed he understood everything right from the start, when in reality he was completely mistaken. His management broke the momentum that had been established since 2016, leading to the podium finishes in 2020 and the victory in Hungary in 2021. »

The support of a management

Alain Prost hopes that the numerous changes within the team made on Friday, July 28th, will bring a new momentum to Alpine. « If you look at when Renault achieved success, you will find a man, Flavio Briatore, and a legendary driver, Fernando Alonso, supported by a management team (Patrick Faure, Louis Schweitzer) which, at that time, applied the philosophy of quick decision-making by specialists. »

The former Renault, McLaren, and Williams driver gives examples of management in the last 30 years. He lists the teams that have won the most: Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull. « Ferrari operated with Jean Todt relying on Ross Brawn and Michael Schumacher; Mercedes found success with Toto Wolff, supported by Niki Lauda and James Allison, with Lewis Hamilton as their spearhead. Red Bull, even though it is not backed by a major car manufacturer, operates in a similar way. » In his comments, he highlights the importance of a president with strong involvement and understanding of Formula 1.

Here is the recipe for success in Formula 1, prepared by Alain Prost.