Prost is 'certain' that Verstappen will surpass the F1 title record.

      Alain Prost is "certain" that he will soon be recognized as one of only three four-time world champions in Formula 1 history. While Michael Schumacher (7), Lewis Hamilton (7), and Juan Manuel Fangio (5) have won more championships, Prost shares the honor of being a quadruple world champion with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. However, at 69, Prost believes he and Vettel will soon be surpassed.

      When asked by RMC Motori how he would feel if Verstappen joins Fangio as a five-time title winner, the Frenchman remarked that it’s simply part of life. "Well, when it’s someone like him - a very fast driver who has demonstrated from the very beginning that he has something unique - then it’s natural," Prost stated. "He is an exceptional champion. He has proven that he is the best, so already sharing four titles with someone like him doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, I’m confident that he will surpass me, and that in the coming years, he certainly will."

      Another F1 icon, Gerhard Berger, recently drew a comparison between Verstappen's methods and style and that of the legendary Niki Lauda – straightforward, direct, and focused on success. "I never want to discuss or compare the drivers of the past with those of today, just to be clear," Prost responded when asked about Berger’s remarks. "Max is similar to Niki in terms of being direct; there’s no doubt about that. When you asked Niki something, he always gave an honest answer."

      Berger also expressed his discontent with how he was portrayed in the new Netflix series about Ayrton Senna, particularly in a scene where he openly insulted Prost. In response, Prost remarked, "I’m sure Ayrton would not have appreciated all of this, even if it makes for a great story. This is even more reason to avoid presenting or depicting falsehoods out of nowhere. If there’s a commercial purpose behind it, I do not want to see it done in the name of Senna. I don’t like it and I won’t accept it."

      Lastly, Prost shared that one of his biggest frustrations with modern Formula 1 is the increasing number of grands prix each season, which currently stands at 24. "For me, 17 or 18 was already too many," the former Ferrari, McLaren, and Williams driver commented. "Of course, one could point out that in my era we had many testing days, but I prefer that over the numerous races we have now. Especially for young drivers, who could learn without using simulators, and for sponsors who could spend more time with drivers during testing. I’d choose that over all these races."