Niki Lauda vs Alain Prost

The Rivalry

When Alain Prost joined Niki Lauda at McLaren in 1984, it pitched the rising French perfectionist against a wily two-time world champion in the prime, dominant car of the season. The result was one of the closest and most intriguing intra-team title fights in Formula 1 history.

Prost was frequently the faster of the two over a season's qualifying and won more races that year, but Lauda's racecraft, consistency and tactical intelligence kept him in the hunt at every turn. The veteran understood exactly what was required to bank points when it mattered most, turning experience into a decisive weapon against his quicker teammate.

The 1984 championship came down to the finale at Estoril, where Lauda finished second to Prost's win and took the title by just half a point, the narrowest margin in the sport's history. It was a masterclass in management from Lauda and a painful near-miss for Prost, who would soon establish himself as one of the greatest of all time.

Defining Moments

• 1984 season — As McLaren teammates the pair dominated the year, sweeping race after race in the all-conquering MP4/2.
• Estoril 1984 — Lauda took second behind race-winner Prost to clinch the championship by half a point, the closest title finish ever recorded.
• Prost's pace — The Frenchman out-qualified Lauda regularly and won more races in 1984, only to be denied by the consistency of his veteran teammate.
• Lauda's farewell — The title was Lauda's third and final championship, a fitting capstone before his retirement that underlined his tactical genius.

The Verdict

Prost was arguably the quicker driver in 1984 and would go on to win four world championships, yet it was Lauda who walked away with the title that mattered most when they shared a garage. Their duel pitted youthful speed against seasoned cunning, and the half-point margin remains the perfect symbol of just how finely balanced this rivalry truly was.