Vortex in Formula 1: four-time world champion throws down - "There is no more respect"

Created: 01/20/2022, 05:30

By: Alexander Kaindl

A picture from 2019: Alain Prost (left) and Sebastian Vettel in conversation.

© Eibner / Imago

Formula 1 is on winter break.

In a traditional racing team, things are still getting down to business - four-time world champion Alain Prost is leaving Alpine.

Paris - Formula 1 has one of the most exciting years in its history behind it. As a reminder, it was the very last lap on the racing calendar that decided the world championship. Max Verstappen intercepted Lewis Hamilton just before the finish line in Abu Dhabi and was finally the celebrated man: the Dutchman won his first title and at the same time prevented his opponent from being crowned the sole record champion. Like Michael Schumacher, Hamilton has seven World Cup wins.

But it was not just because of the extraordinary dramaturgy that it was an exciting year in the premier class.

After dreary years in the Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel had opened a new chapter and switched to Aston Martin.

The return of the prestigious brand was a topic before the start of the season, as was the premiere of Mick Schumacher.

The son of Formula 1 legend Michael made his debut at Haas in 2021 and gained important experience there.

And there was another racing team that wrote a number of headlines: Renault - or Alpine.

Formula 1: Vortex at Alpine - four-time world champion Alain Prost throws out as a consultant

The French have been in Formula 1 as a factory team since 2016 and renamed themselves Alpine last season.

Alpine is a French sports car brand that has belonged to Renault since the 1970s.

But not only the name was new: there were also changes in the cockpit.

With Fernando Alonso, an old acquaintance was brought back.

The Spaniard, now 40 years old, should help the traditional racing team to regain its former glory.

After all, it was Alonso who brought in the only two drivers' world championship titles so far: in 2005 and 2006 he raced to the world championship crown in a Renault.

However, he and his teammate Esteban Ocon should not get more than tenth and eleventh place in 2021.

And even behind the scenes, not everything went according to plan at Alpine, as is now known.

Because: One year after Laurent Rossi took over as managing director, racing legend Alain Prost resigned as a special advisor.

"Relationships have become more and more complicated and I felt that there was a lot of jealousy," said four-time world champion Prost (66) of the French sports newspaper "L'Équipe" on Monday evening.

"Laurent Rossi's wish was to be alone and not to be influenced by anyone."

Alain Prost talks about conditions at Formula 1 racing team Alpine: "There is no more respect"

He told him that he no longer needed a consultant. In the meantime, there is a will to push many people aside. "Laurent Rossi wants to be in the spotlight all by himself," said Prost, who had been an adviser to the racing team since 2017. "What interests me is the challenge of being part of a team and being heard and involved in certain decisions." That way, work is no longer fun, said Prost.

"If the boss of the team doesn't say hello to you when he arrives at the race track, then it's no longer fun," said the former champion.

"There is no more respect and that cannot work." Rossi himself initially did not comment.

Alpine recently parted ways with race director Marcin Budkowski.

Sebastian Vettel's previous team boss at Aston Martin, Otmar Szafnauer, is being traded as his successor.