Alain Prost considering drastic social media action following 'online abuse'

Alain Prost says he is giving thought to the idea of "turning off" his Instagram account following the rise in abusive messages he is receiving. 

The four-time F1 world champion currently has 321,000 followers on the platform, with his last post as of the 8th March coming on 15th January with Tennis legend Roger Federer. 

Prost was at the heart of F1's fiercest rivalry with McLaren team-mate Ayrton Senna in 1989, before it spilt over to Ferrari following Prost's 1990 move, and although relations between the pair greatly improved, Prost feels he will forever be linked to the Brazilian. 

"I can't not think about Ayrton, fortunately or unfortunately," he told Motorsport Total. 

"For example, I'm considering turning off my Instagram, because I get messages every day, really every day without exception - from time to time there's a hateful one, that can happen.

"My biggest fan base on social media is from Brazil, of all places, so I'm forced to think of him.

"Indirectly, I've been living around this story for 30 years, and it will probably stay that way for the rest of my life.

"Life consists of many parts: the path to motorsport, my career, and now. 

"In the 30 years [since the end of my career] I have done a lot, but it is hardly talked about, I get the feeling that my life is just this Prost-Senna duel.

"But there was something else even during that time, all the drivers I drove against and fought against: I had four world champions as team-mates, and they are extremely important people who meant a lot to me."

The four world champions Prost had as team-mates were Senna, Niki Lauda, Keke Rosberg, Damon Hill. 

FIA responds to alleged Prost abuse

The FIA's United Against Online Abuse [UAOA] campaign is wary of Prost's comments and has issued a response.

“As a former world champion in his sport, Alain Prost should not be driven off social media due to online abuse,” a spokesperson told RacingNews365.

“His experience highlights the harsh reality faced by sports men and women at all levels—daily abuse, harassment and even threats. 

“Under the FIA’s leadership, UAOA is developing the educational, technological, and regulatory solutions needed to protect competitors, officials, and fans to ensure that sport remains a place of strong but fair and inclusive competition.”