F1 legend Prost welcomes Verstappen to exclusive club

Following his 51st career victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix, Max Verstappen has been hailed by Alain Prost with whom he now shares an exclusive win tally.

Prost ended his F1 career at the end of the 1993 campaign with four titles and 51 race wins to his name.

Verstappen equalled Prost's win total in Mexico City last weekend as he continues his dominant campaign, having clinched his third World Championships a handful of races ago.

Just Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel have more F1 wins than Verstappen.

Speaking to L'Equipe, Prost emphasised how special the Dutchman's achievement is.

“There are five people with at least that number of victories,” he said. “Five in the history of Formula 1.

“I am not ashamed to say that I am proud to be in that list.

"My story is over but it was beautiful, and Max's is being written now and is just as beautiful, in his own way."

Losing win record 'hurt a little'

When Prost called time on his F1 career, he stood as the most winningest driver in the sport's history before being surpassed by Schumacher

Prost admits that it hurt “a bit” when his record was beaten, but says he is over his tally being bested.

"For Max, getting to 51 is just a number. I was already the first, and I knew that record would be broken.

"That is always more painful. But even then I saw it coming. I was able to prepare.

“Michael won everything. [Juan Manuel] Fangio's five titles meant nothing to me.

“On the other hand, the number of victories did hurt a bit, but let's not exaggerate, I didn't cry about it.

“But I would be lying if I said I didn't feel anything that day."

Prost to personally reach out to Verstappen

Following Schumacher's run of success, Vettel and Hamilton then passed Prost's win tally.

"It just happened,” Prost reflected. “Because anyway if you are no longer first, it doesn't matter if you are second, third or even fourth.

“If you look at the list now, there aren't really any checkpoints. The numbers don't lie. Max joins Hamilton, Schumacher and Vettel."

Prost has asserted that he wants to personally congratulate Verstappen at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

“I will tell him that he has already joined a very exclusive club and that that is already an achievement.

“I will also tell him that he is a driver I appreciate for his determination and talent. And finally, I will tell him that I am not jealous or sad to be beaten by a sportsman of his level.”