The Greatest Rivalry in Racing Quiz

Answer: 1984 Monaco Grand Prix

The sixth round of the 1984 World Championship was held at Monaco in torrential rain. The race is remembered for two reasons, the first being the performances of Senna and Stefan Bellof where both looked like potential first time Grand Prix winners. The second reason is the controversial stoppage of the race which handed victory to Alain Prost at a time when conditions were no worse than at any time preceeding. Nevertheless, the performance of Senna had caught the eye of many seasoned F1 watchers and he would be off to pastures new in 1985.

Answer: False

Prost would win the World Championship in 1985 and 1986 while Senna would finish 4th in those years. But in 1987 while Senna was driving a Lotus-Honda, Prost struggled with an aging McLaren-Porsche, and Senna finished third overall to Prost's fourth. Senna would actually have finished second overall in 1987 if not for a last race disqualification after he finished second in Australia.

Answer: 10

Senna would lead home Prost at the San Marino, Canadian, Detroit, German, Hungarian, Belgian, and the Japanese Grand Prix. Prost led Senna home at the Mexican, French, and the Australian Grand Prix. Senna won 8 races to Prost's 7, and although Prost scored more points in total, Senna was World Champion as only the best 11 of 16 results counted to the final total.

Answer: Senna swerved at Prost as Prost tried to overtake him

Prost had out-qualified Senna for only the second time in 1988 at Estoril. At the start, Senna managed to get ahead of Prost, but at the end of the first lap Prost was trying to pass Senna on the front straight when the Brazilian swerved at Prost and put him to within six inches of the pit wall. Prost got by and went on to win the race but was furious with Senna. Senna would later apologise for this action.

Answer: San Marino

Prost and Senna were miles quicker in qualifying and at the first start Senna led away from Prost. The race was stopped after Gerhard Berger's fiery accident. At the restart, Prost got the better start but Senna overtook his teammate before Tosa and went on to win. Prost always maintained they had a pre-race agreement that there would be no overtaking prior to the first corner. Senna maintained that the race was restarted and the agreement was void.

Answer: 46

Probably one of the most famous scenes in Grand Prix, the 1989 World Championship concluded on lap 46 when Prost and Senna collided at the chicane. Some believe Prost turned in on Senna, closing the door on his teammate. Others believe it was Senna's driving that caused the accident. Prost retired from the race on the spot while Senna was push-started and would go on to cross the line first, but was later disqualified for cutting the course after the collision.

Answer: 6

Prost won with Senna third in Brazil, France, and Germany. Senna won with Prost second in Belgium and Italy, while Senna was second and Prost third in Portugal. Most podiums bore witness to the animosity with neither driver talking or applauding each other during the ceremony.

Answer: First corner, first lap

The 1990 World Championship was concluded on the first turn of the first lap. Senna had taken pole but made a poor start and Prost led into the first turn. Senna went for a gap he believed was there but hit the rear of Prost's car. Both cars went flying off the track. Senna had wanted pole position moved prior to the start but it was denied.

He said if it was't moved Prost would not get through the first turn. He admitted to Prost in 1993 that the accident was deliberate.

Answer: 1993 Australian Grand Prix

The 1993 Australian Grand Prix was the end of an era. It was the final race for Alain Prost, while it was the final Grand Prix win for Senna in his last race for McLaren. A visibly emotional Senna pulled Prost on to the top step of the podium during the ceremony and, to the surprise of Prost, embraced his long-time enemy.

Answer: True

With the Brazilian's tragic death, Prost later said, 'Part of me died with him'. Prost would attend the funeral of Senna and act as a pallbearer along with a number of other Formula One drivers. Prost has since kept in contact with the Senna family and is involved with the Ayrton Senna Foundation. Prost has not spoken often of his relationship with Senna since this time. But, what he did state in an interview was, 'Actually, I think it's not impossible that in time we might have become friends. We shared an awful lot.'