Prost weighs social media exit amid daily Senna-related abuse
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Four-time Formula 1 world champion Alain Prost has revealed he is considering shutting down his Instagram account due to the relentless online abuse he receives over his historic rivalry with the late Ayrton Senna.
The Frenchman, whose battles with the Brazilian legend defined an era of motorsport, says the daily barrage of messages – some dripping with hostility – has left him questioning his presence on social media, where he commands a following of over 300,000.
The admission inevitably shines a stark light on the enduring tribalism in F1 fandom, decades after the Prost-Senna saga reached its peak.
A Rivalry That Defined an Era
The pair's rivalry remains one of the most iconic and controversial in Formula 1 history. As McLaren teammates in 1988 and 1989, their relationship was fraught with tension, culminating in infamous clashes at the Japanese Grand Prix in both 1989 and 1990.
Their battles for supremacy captivated the sport, and while they had begun to mend their relationship before Senna's tragic death in 1994, the legacy of their duels continues to evoke strong emotions among fans.
Prost has now disclosed that the intense fan loyalty toward Senna, particularly in Brazil, has led to persistent messages on social media, often taking a toxic turn.
"I can't not think about Ayrton, fortunately or unfortunately," Prost told Motorsport-Total.
"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."
Living in the Shadow of a Legendary Duel
Despite his illustrious career, Prost feels that his legacy has been unfairly reduced to his rivalry with Senna, rather than his broader contributions to the sport.
"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," he admitted.
"Life consists of many parts: the path to motorsport, my career, and now. In the 30 years [since I retired] I have done a lot, but it is hardly talked about, I get the feeling that my life is just this Prost-Senna duel."
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While he acknowledges the significance of his rivalry with Senna, Prost is keen to remind fans that he competed against many other great drivers during his career.
"But there was something else even during that time, all the drivers I drove against and fought against: I had four world champions as team-mates, and they are extremely important people who meant a lot to me."
FIA Responds to Online Abuse Concerns
Prost's admission has reignited discussions about online abuse in motorsport, prompting a response from the FIA. In 2023, the governing body launched the 'United Against Online Abuse' (UAOA) initiative to combat the growing problem of toxic fan behavior.
A spokesperson for the campaign addressed Prost's situation in a statement.
"As a former world champion in his sport, Alain Prost should not be driven off social media due to online abuse," commented the governing body.
"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."
The Prost-Senna rivalry is etched into the fabric of Formula 1, but the Frenchman's recent comments highlight the challenges of living under its weight decades later.
While Prost's contributions to the sport extend far beyond those years, the intensity of their battles and the deep emotions they stirred continue to shape how he is perceived today.
As motorsport's governing body works to curb online abuse, Prost's story serves as a reminder of the darker side of fan passion in modern sports.
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