Both men were at McClaren in the late 80s and were regularly competing with each other for the World Championship title. There were several instances of one man attempting to block the other man during vital races.

Memorably in the 1989 Japanese Grand Prix that would decide which man would claim the title. They collided at the chicane when Prost blocked an attempted pass by Senna; Prost went on to claim the title. Their rivalry continued until Prost's retirement in 1993.

However each man acknowledged the role the other had played in spurring the other one to succeed. After Senna died in a crash at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, Prost was a pallbearer at his funeral. He later said that when Senna died, "a part of himself died also."