Four-times world champion Alain Prost said on Tuesday that he
was "absolutely surprised and impressed" by Lewis Hamilton's
stunning arrival in Formula One this year.
But he felt great sympathy for Hamilton's McLaren teammate and
rival Fernando Alonso, who has been swept aside by the young
Briton's recent surge of two wins to take over as leader of the
title race by ten points.
The Frenchman, who endured a stormy rivalry with Brazilian
Ayrton Senna when they were at McLaren in the late 1980's, said he
found the human drama of the title race irresistible.
"It is so different from past years," he said. "In the past it
has been about the racing or the technology, but this is about the
human factor. It is all about the psychology. And, I must say, I
know just how Alonso must be feeling."
Speaking at a reception hosted by the Swiss watch maker TAG
Heuer to launch a limited edition book of artistic photographs to
raise funds for Save the Children, Prost told Reuters that he
understood defending champion Alonso's problems.
"Usually, in this situation, they are drivers of different
generations, but these two are separated by only two or three
years. And both are new in the team," he said. "That makes it more
difficult for Alonso.
"He wanted to go to McLaren because it was like a dream for him,
but now he is there he is finding he is not the only one in the
family. I think it must be very difficult for him to motivate
himself in this situation."
Prost said that for Alonso it was a tough position. "When you
have a young driver against one who has been winning, then the
people, the media and everyone all support the new and young
driver. That is how it is.
"It was like that for me with Niki (Lauda) and then it was like
it for Ayrton, with me. Now it is the same, but this time Alonso
came new to the team and expected to feel like a number one.
"I always say that it is just a feeling, but it so difficult to
deal with. I felt it. Even if it is not true that the team favour
Lewis in any way, and I am sure they do not, that does not stop
Alonso having that feeling.
"You think you are the only son and then you find out that there
is another one and then you think that maybe they like him more
than you."
Prost said Hamilton's progress and results proved he was already
at the very top level in the sport and destined for greatness.
"He has not made any mistakes, he is consistent, he is fast," he
said. "Maybe the only thing to worry about is that he is young and
something can happen."
The two McLaren men go head to head again this weekend on
Prost's home soil in the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours, a week
before Hamilton races in front of his home fans at Silverstone in
the British Grand Prix.
(China Daily via Agencies June 28, 2007)