1991-07-07 F91 643 (27) Alain Prost FRA - Magny-Cours 2
On July 7th, 1991, Alain Prost finished 2nd in the French GP at Magny-Cours with this Ferrari F91 643. I was a fierce fight with Nigel Mansell with the Williams, they surpassed each other various times throughout the race, while Senna was always 3rd with McLaren.
Mansell had left the Scuderia the previous year due to his unstable relationship with Prost, to rejoin Williams for the 1991 Formula One season. Mansell's replacement was Frenchman Jean Alesi, who had been impressive during the previous two years at Tyrrell. Ferrari had entered a downturn, partially as their famous V12 engine was no longer competitive against the smaller, lighter and more fuel efficient V10s of their competitors. The Ferrari chassis, despite a major revision by the French Grand Prix (F-643) was also not up to the level of the McLaren and the Williams models. Prost won no races, only getting onto the podium five times. He took this out on the team, publicly criticising the team and the Ferrari 643,[62] and subsequently had his contract terminated before the end of the season, immediately prior to the Australian Grand Prix.[63] He was replaced by Italian driver Gianni Morbidelli for the final race of the 1991 season and by another Italian, Ivan Capelli, for the following season. Despite being sacked, Prost received a significant payment from Ferrari to not drive for any other team.