There are few drivers in the history of Formula 1 who have been as successful as Alain Prost.
During his time with McLaren and Williams, the Frenchman won four world championships, a feat only bettered by Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio.
Alain Prost was speaking to GQ Magazine and admitted that he has been very impressed by a young driver currently on the grid.
Even though Hamilton approaching his 40s and Fernando Alonso has signed a contract with Aston Martin until he’s at 45, there is a new generation of talent in the paddock racing at the front of the grid.
Oscar Piastri has been sensational since joining McLaren last year and it’s easy to forget that his teammate Lando Norris and 2024-star Yuki Tsunoda are still only 24.
However, Prost believes that Red Bull star Max Verstappen is by far the most impressive driver of his generation.
He’s already a three-time world champion but his quest to secure a fourth straight title might be more difficult to achieve than first expected.
READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
Alain Prost hails Max Verstappen as the ‘prodigy of his generation’
The 2024 Monaco Grand Prix was one of the worst weekends for Red Bull in the past few seasons.
Sergio Perez couldn’t get out of Q1 and then didn’t even reach the third corner of the race before his huge accident with the two Haas drivers.
READ MORE: Martin Brundle shares who he thinks was at fault for Sergio Perez crash at the Monaco Grand Prix
Not for the first time this season, it was up to Max Verstappen to try and deliver a positive result for the team but the limitations of his car and the Monaco circuit meant he the best he could do was come home where he qualified in 6.
The Dutchman admitted the only positive from the weekend was that Red Bull now understand better one of the key issues affecting the RB20 on circuits such as Monaco.
It could affect them in Canada as well, giving Ferrari and McLaren hope that they could provide serious competition for the serial champions this year.
Alain Prost believes that the domination Verstappen has shown over the past few years highlights why he’s the most impressive talent of his generation.
If Perez is unable to deliver through the middle part of the season like last year, then the pressure will be on his 26-year-old teammate to lead the team to another championship.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links
Max Verstappen continues to dominate F1 despite difficult Monaco Grand Prix
Talking about the triple world champion, Prost said: “Personally, I always admire domination. Domination doesn’t just come from a driver, it’s also the accomplishment of a team.
“I know how difficult it is to put everything you have into winning and dominating a championship and then staying on top.
“Max Verstappen’s domination is perhaps less obvious this year but it remains a little all the same.
“There are 24 races in a season, a lot can happen. If there are two or three teams fighting, we start to distribute the points and the championship will be managed differently.
“Red Bull can be destabilized if its opponents really respond. The team will have to reinvent itself.
“Max Verstappen remains super strong, he’s one of the best we’ve ever known in this sport, but I think everyone has a weakness, that everyone is human.
“This is what makes the championship interesting.”
Prost was then asked who the best driver in Formula 1 history is and said: “I have never answered this question and I never will. Max is one of the best, he is the prodigy of his generation.”
Speculation over Max Verstappen’s 2025 Red Bull teammate set to come to an end
Prost is correct to say that Verstappen is a once in a generation talent but it’s having an impact on the Red Bull team as a whole.
They have the opportunity to replace Sergio Perez at the end of the season with his contract set to expire.
However, it appears as though the most likely candidate to step into the team – Carlos Sainz – has already been told he won’t be joining them next year.
Perez looks set to stay with the team which may have an impact on Red Bull’s ability to win the Constructors’ Championship.
However, it maintains the status quo between the two teammates appear to be making every effort to appease Verstappen considering Mercedes are desperate to sign him.
It’s a similar tactic to the one Mercedes used with Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari used with Michael Schumacher.
However, Valtteri Bottas and Rubens Barrichello were both capable of winning races on their day and at this stage, it’s hard to argue that Perez is in a similar position.
The post ‘One of the best’: Alain Prost identifies ‘super strong’ F1 driver who is the ‘prodigy of his generation’ appeared first on F1 Oversteer.