The Professor Said a Bad Thing: Prost vs. FISA

How one interview led to a standoff between the all-time great and the governing body.

Language policing has become a contentious issue in Formula 1. Max Verstappen received community service for saying at the press conference before the Singapore Grand Prix, that his car “was fucked.” Later in Mexico, Charles Leclerc used the same expletive while describing his off-track venture during the race, which cost him €10,000.

The penalties, along with other issues, were the focus of the joint statement released by the drivers association, GPDA. They haven’t been fond of language policing, to say the least. They didn’t shy away from expressing their displeasure with the President of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who initiated the crackdown on swearing during press conferences.

What will come out of it remains to be seen.

The swearing affair reminded me of another example of a driver getting into trouble because of his mouth. The example from the past, I discovered while researching for my post about the 1993 conflict between the governing body, Williams and McLaren.

(Un)Welcome

Alain Prost returned to Formula 1 in 1993 with Williams, after a one-year hiatus. Unfortunately he’d gotten himself in the trouble, before the season even began.

Bernie Ecclestone said the Frenchman has no right to a super license, Max Mosley, in a letter to Prost’s new boss, Frank Williams, questioned whether it is wise to allow such a “political animal” back on the grid. FISA (F1’s governing body until 1993) considered even imposing a ban on, at the time, the thee-times world champion and the all-time wins leader, for bringing the sport into disrepute.

Although the Frenchman’s super license had been approved, the specter of a ban still loomed over his head until a few days after the season’s opening race at Kyalami.

The Interview

What cardinal sin did Prost commit to provoke such an aggressive reaction from the most influential figures in Formula 1? What kind of wrongdoing incited their ire?

He criticized Ecclestone in the French press for being driven by greed, wanting to control everything, and generally doing the opposite of what should be done.

Although Ecclestone technically had no jurisdiction and, therefore, no power over the competitors, his good fellow Mosley, as the President of FISA, enjoyed the aforementioned privileges. Hence the threat of a race ban.

Prost Draws a Line in the Sand

The Frenchman took the pole position for the South African Grand Prix, and at the press conference, he made it unequivocally clear that he would retire for good if FISA imposed a ban on him.

Prost won the race, leaving the governing body with a hard nut to crack.

Whether to call the three-time world champion, the legend of the sport who has returned to F1 after a hiatus, recently added a 45th win to his resume, and is currently leading the standings, to determine if he is bluffing, or to fold?

FISA chose the latter.

Innocent

Five days after Prost had made his intentions clear, he was exonerated by the governing body. “The matter is now finished,” concluded Mosley.

The Frenchman cunningly leveraged his status and the fact that he was driving the Williams FW15C, a.k.a. the best car on the grid – making him the favorite for the championship. Furthermore, he had joined a team supplied by a French engine manufacturer. Simply put, Prost’s position was too strong to be challenged.

FISA wisely caved. Ecclestone and Mosley had to swallow the bitter pill.

It was one of those rare occasions when a driver told the governing body to fuck off, and they politely complied.