Prost predicts problems for McLaren duo
Alonso and Hamilton fought to the end of the US Grand Prix
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Monday, 18, Jun 2007 11:25
Former Formula One world champion Alain Prost believes that McLaren's policy of refusing to impose a hierarchy on Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso could risk derailing both drivers' title bids.
"I think it's a mistake to have two cars of the same status in the same team," the Frenchman said.
"In the end it will work against them because it will create too many tensions."
Hamilton has leapt ten points ahead of his reigning champion team-mate after consecutive victories in Canada and USA and tensions are beginning to become evident in the paddock.
Alonso suggested in a interview before the Indianapolis race that McLaren's British roots might lead the team to favour his rookie colleague.
Despite a public show of unity on the podium, it is unlikely that falling further behind in the drivers' standings will have lightened the Spaniard's mood.
Prost claimed that, even though team boss Ron Dennis has insisted that his two stars are on equal footing, McLaren may unintentionally be in a better position to aid Hamilton's championship bid.
"Hamilton has used the simulator much more than Alonso and he drives more smoothly than the Spaniard. As a result I think it is easier for McLaren to adjust their cars to Hamilton's characteristics," he said.
Prost endured a frosty relationship with Ayrton Senna during the pair's time at McLaren in the late eighties.
In several controversial incidents towards the end of the 1980s and beginning of the 1990s the pair collided several times - most notably at Suzuka, Japan twice in 1989 and 1990 - as they battled for the world title.