Alain Prost has delivered a damning critique of the Netflix series on Ayrton Senna, claiming it contained falsehoods and lacked sensitivity towards the Formula 1 legend.
The series, aired last year, has received a plethora of reviews – both positive and negative – and prompted many F1 fans to flock to the streaming service to watch the depiction of the Brazilian three-time World Champion.
The series, which starred Gabriel Leone as Senna, was shown amid a myriad of celebrations in 2024 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Senna’s death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, alongside that of Roland Ratzenberger, who died the day before.
Senna endured a tumultuous rivalry with Prost, which began when the pair were team-mates at McLaren from 1988 to 1989, and continued into the 1990s when the Frenchman drove for both Ferrari and Williams.
Prost, who made peace with Senna prior to his death, told RAC Motori of his displeasure with the portrayal of his counterpart.
“I’m sure Ayrton wouldn’t like it, not least because it shows a lack of sensitivity,” he said.
“It’s a great story and you shouldn’t tell things that weren’t true out of thin air.
“If you have to do something commercial, it’s not nice to do it in Senna’s name. I don’t like it and I don’t accept it.”
Prost’s criticism towards past Senna series
The criticism of the series is not the first Senna-orientated picture to face a backlash from Prost.
The documentary film Senna, released in 2010, was hugely praised by many, but Prost was scathing in his views, saying: “I resent the film that was done,” adding it was “fake.”
Believing the film had glossed over the friendship the two men enjoyed across Senna’s final months, Prost added: “Ayrton started talking to me.
“He called me at least once or twice a week. Sometimes for nothing, sometimes for advice.
“It lasted six months until Imola. We became friends, we became close. It’s a new period that I would never have imagined before. I have an incredible memory of it.”
READ MORE – SENNA: Netflix’s Latest F1 Series Trades Soul for Spectacle
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