Prost acknowledges that Piastri is "somewhat similar to me."

      "I have a strong familiarity with Oscar."

      Formula 1 legend Alain Prost has expressed his admiration for the current championship leader, Oscar Piastri. Following Max Verstappen's four consecutive titles, F1 appears poised to welcome a new world champion in 2025, likely one of McLaren's drivers, either Piastri or British GP winner Lando Norris. Prost believes that the competition will not escalate into a contentious situation like his own past rivalry with the legendary Ayrton Senna at McLaren.

      "We honestly didn’t pay much attention to the other drivers or teams," Prost, 70, stated during an interview with Italy’s Autosprint at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. "I don’t think they’ll experience the same issues we faced," the four-time world champion added. Indeed, the characteristics of Piastri and Norris contrast starkly with the Prost-Senna relationship, though Prost recognizes similarities between himself and the 24-year-old Australian.

      "I know Oscar very well," Prost remarked. "I was the one who urged Renault to add him to the academy, despite their initial reluctance. He’s a remarkable driver," he continued. "I appreciate his approach, which is somewhat similar to mine—he makes real-time decisions for the right overtaking move and displays a bit of cleverness. You know I have a fondness for him as a driver."

      Following Norris’ victory at Silverstone, Piastri's lead has shrunk to just 8 points, with a significant gap now forming between them and Verstappen in third place. "In the championship, it’s quite challenging when two drivers are competing for the title," Prost mentioned, "but if you have a substantial lead over other teams and drivers, allowing them to race and compete is the optimal scenario for the sport. If the competition tightens with other drivers or teams, things could become more challenging—however, it doesn’t seem likely at this point."