“A very strong friendship”

Alain Prost: “The period when we were teammates was the most splendid and brilliant period I’ve ever known because there was a mixture of success with McLaren – he (Niki Lauda) won the championship in 1984, me in 1985 – but above all this very strong friendship that was created at that time.”

“Niki taught me how to put things into perspective. When I did not feel well, after a loss, he taught me how to get detached. He made me drink my first whisky in 1984 to take things off my mind. He taught me how to compartmentalise. That was his philosophy. We stayed great friends till the end.”

Picture taken in January 1984, at a test at the Paul-Ricard circuit.