When I test I never go right to the limit. Only because when you are below the limit you can go at the same speed all day, and that's the only way you can be absolutely sure about what you are testing.
Alain ProstRead
When you win a race like this the feeling is very, very good. There have been times when I have been flat-out to finish sixth, but you can't see that from the outside. In 1980 I finished three or four times in seventh place. I pushed like mad, yet everyone was gathered around the winner and they were thinking that I was just trundling around. But that's motor racing. So in fact the only thing you can judge in this sport is the long term. You can judge a career or a season, but not one race.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Success is assessed over time and not by individual achievements.
In motor racing, as Alain Prost illustrates, the outcome of a single race does not define a driver's skill or potential. While observers may be blinded by the glory of winning, it is essential to recognize that perseverance and consistent effort over time are what truly matter in evaluating one's career. The emotions tied to both victory and defeat are fleeting, but the long-term journey is where real success is measured.
Themes
MotivationSuccessPersistenceRacingCareer
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational talk to young athletes about the importance of long-term commitment to their sport.
More from Alain Prost
All quotes →When I look fast, I'm not smooth and I am going slowly. And when I look slow, I am smooth and going fast.
Alain ProstRead
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