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Maybe Dottore you should lookat the pre MS era and the work Prost did with McLaren....
Or maybe what he did with Ferrari..bringing a team that was a total no hoper into the field of battle, to an extent MS did not have to deal with.
Prost, both by his own ability and Ron Dennis' perfectionism bought F1 racing (not car design) to levels of professionalism unheard of in F1 circles. MS has built on that, not innovated to the the same extent.
I don't recall Ferrari, even with Todt, Brawn Bryne and MS winning 15 out of 16 races.. see McLaren in 88...or exerting as much technical, professional and logisitical supremacy as McLaren in that era.
As for MS against Senna...Seeing a both have a ruthless treak and have a penchant for driving others who they fear off the track I think a comparison of their relative abilites is fair...and their response to the flak that followed.. Senna moved to Williams to ensure he had a car that was capable of beating MS in the Benetton...By his own admission he was trying to make sure Ms did not beat him again...And, as in Senna's first encounter with Prost in the Mercedes Cosworht car race he knew MS was a hungry, aggressive young turk and knew what a young turk was capable of in order to win...
Also I bet you that had you said that Senna would have drive Prost off the track in Japan.. on one of the highest speed first corners of the circuit, to a team mate.. on a team who principle was already regarded as one of the most disciplined bosses in the pit who did not suffer foolishness.. etc...nobody would have believed you...They would have accpeted it was possible.. but impropable.
One of the difficult things is to evaluate the difference between success and greatness...Stirling Moss was one of the greatest ever racing drivers, yet never won the World Championship...he was not as successful, but was a greater racer than MS, simply becuase he achieved his success in a manner that demonstrated his ability and skill as superior to the others.. not by ensuring others where unable to win...shall we look to nose dampers and 'blocking' manoeuvres...
Ferrari have long been too keen to use off track pressure to gain an advantage...and this diminishes their on track success...which in 90% of the cases is sufficent to win without the shdows...
As for the proof is in the pudding....I think you'll find that MS is regarded rightly and indeputably as the most successful racer ever.. but not the greatest.. certainly not here.
Whilst his earlier transgressions could and would have been excused over time, the incident in Monaco this year will ensure that the ultimate accolade is not his...
No truely great champion needs to do resort ot this type of action. His contribution will be noticed.. but I prefer Briatore's comment.. 'I'll not miss him'...
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