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F1: Hamilton-Alonso No Senna-Prost, Dennis Insists
Written by: RACER Staff   http://www.racer.com
06/18/2007 - 07:00 PM
Indianapolis, Ind.
 


Hamilton and Alonso keep their drivers' points and continue to lead the championship. (LAT Photo) » More Photos

Back in 1988, McLaren drafted a promising youngster to partner an established two-time world champion. Contrary to general expectations, the youngster was instantly quicker than the lauded veteran. Although the pairing was ostensibly friendly towards each other at first, tension within the team escalated as the duo engaged in a fierce battle for the world title, and, by the end of the year, the McLaren team was effectively formed of two opposing, competing factions.

The Ayrton Senna versus Alain Prost rift has gone into the annals of Formula 1 as quite possibly the stiffest, most bitter rivalry in the history of the sport. Its dimension was only surpassed by the one of McLaren's own superiority in comparison to the competition, meaning the intra-team battle hardly hampered the squad's efforts towards clinching both the driver's and the constructor's championship.

All those eerie similarities, however, doesn't faze McLaren boss Ron Dennis, despite increasing reports in both the British and Spanish media that Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso's relationship inside the silver team is already suffering.

"It's different; the two years' difference between them is nothing," Dennis says, noting that Alonso is still just 25 years old (actually it's three years, as Hamilton
is 22. Still, in 1988, Senna was 28 and Prost, 33). "The humor in the situation is that they really like each other. It is a sort of situation where [they say]: 'I like you, but wish you wouldn't be so competitive.'"

What Dennis may be forgetting is that Senna and Prost also "liked" each other early in '88. The duo's fallout didn't happen until that year's San Marino GP, when the Brazilian allegedly broke a gentlemen's agreement that said whoever led the first turn would be allowed to keep the lead in the opening laps.
Deja vu: A thicker-haired Ron Dennis observes "best buddies" Senna and Prost congratulate each other on the 1988 Aussie GP podium. (LAT Photo) » More Photos




Catch up on the developments in Formula 1 each month in RACER. Steve Cooper gets the scoop on the decline of the Renault F1 team this season, and its efforts to turn the tide in our July issue, on sale now.


"I am comfortable with the situation," Dennis added. "Of course it's great to be first and second and lead both championships, but the important thing in anyone's life is to be happy.

"They are very committed to winning, but it is also important to them how they win. I just make sure there is nothing in the team interpreted by either driver as not being equitable."