Alain Prost takes it slow at Goodwood: “How was it possible to drive these cars?”

Four-time champion Alain Prost was reunited with two of his championship-winning McLarens as he took on the Goodwood Festival of Speed hillclimb. Standing beside the 1985 McLaren MP4/2B and wearing his original race suit from the era, he questioned how he and his rivals were ever able to tame their machinery.

The Frenchman has been driving alongside several Formula 1 champions this weekend in West Sussex, including Mario Andretti and Nigel Mansell. He was also joined by his son, Nicolas Prost, as the event celebrated the championship’s 75th anniversary. 

“It’s very, very strange,” Prost admitted on the Festival of Speed broadcast. “I mean, today I drive the ’85 and ’88, so it’s different cars, but every time you go into these types of cars, you know, you remember very quickly all the [memories].” 

Returning to the famous hillclimb with both the MP4/2B and MP4/4 was a trip down memory lane for the champion, who won three of his four titles with McLaren. 

Ayrton Senna, Lotus 97T Renault, battles with Alain Prost, McLaren MP4-2B TAG

Photo by: Motorsport Images

“For sure, what is strange is that when you go back to the mechanical gearbox and the clutch… The clutch is the part more difficult, you know, to get used to again.

“It’s much harder [in comparison to modern F1 cars]. But I knew also the automatic gearbox on the wheel with the Ferrari and the Williams. But going back to that is… for sure, I mean, very often when you go back, you ask: ‘How was it possible to drive these cars with more than 1200 horsepower, more or less, at one stage?’

“Especially races like Monaco, where you had to change, I don’t know, 2000 times, you know. But when you get used to these things… Fangio would say the same with this type of car. We really had to adapt. 

“But it’s fantastic, you know, and also this is part of the history.”

Prost was keen to exit the cars in the condition he entered, admitting he will “always go very slow” when driving these older cars. 

“First of all, it’s a celebration. I prefer to go slow and wave to the crowd – at least they have more time to see the cars,” he said. 

“I have respect for the mechanics, about the people taking care of this car. They are part of the history, so there’s no point to go fast. Just enjoy it like this.”

Earlier in the day, seven champions stood on the Goodwood House balcony to address the many thousands attending the event. Prost stood with Mansell, Andretti, Sir Jackie Stewart, Emerson Fittipaldi, Jacques Villeneuve and Mika Häkkinen. Damon Hill also attended the event, but wasn’t on the balcony at the time.

As the drivers shared laughs while absorbing the cheers of the crowd, it was clear the camaraderie still remains between them. 

“You have so many anecdotes that you could [talk] almost about any individual – because we are all characters. But very often, you don’t know what is behind the scenes, and that is good,” he laughed. 

“It’s very nice to see all the friends, all the people you raced with. I mean, as I said, it’s part of the history.”