The Power and The Glory: Senna, Prost and F1's Golden Era

by David Sedgwick

Set amid the glamour and bravado of 1980s Formula 1, The Power and the Glory tells the story of a rivalry unsurpassed in motor-racing history. By the mid-80s Alain Prost had firmly established himself as leader of the F1 pack. Winning Grands Prix almost at will, the French ace radiated invincibility. But then came the emergence of Ayrton Senna, sparking a decade-long battle for supremacy out on the track. Although completely at odds in terms of character and background, the two men were driven by the same burning desire: to become Formula 1's heavyweight champion of the world, its undisputed king. Senna and Prost would both go on to win multiple world championships in what was a golden era for F1 racing. Their Suzuka showdowns of 1988-90 attracted record worldwide audiences and popularized the sport as never before. An intimate portrait of two unique competitors, The Power and the Glory is a supercharged story of acrimony and sheer ambition.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

Published September 20, 2018

Reviews

[Lovisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite mixed feelings in the end. Some parts were entertaining while others were almost too frustrating, especially as a Prost fan.

Pros:
+ The structure of the book
+ The writing itself was really easy and mostly entertaining to read
+ I liked the pictures :)
+ An overall easy read
+ Part One was interesting and felt more equal between Prost and Senna

Cons:
- It didn't feel completely unbiased. It definitely seemed like the author preferred Senna's side of the story which I think leads to painting Prost in a worse light than is deserved. It also makes the rivalry between them feel less nuanced which frankly pissed me off.
- The psychoanalyzing the author kept doing quickly became very grating. I'm not a fan of authors making assumptions about what someone was feeling or thinking in a certain moment that no one else could possibly know about. It almost made the book feel more like fiction than non-fiction at times.

Overall, a decent read which I don't regret reading. I'll read anything about Prost and/or Senna though lmao

[Fletcher Beauchamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

An insightful look into one of Formula 1’s most dramatic and competitive eras. At times through the book it feels like the author has a slight bias towards Ayrton Senna and his side of the events. If you can look past that, you’re in for a fascinating and exciting read that goes into details about Senna’s and Prost’s rise up the motor sports ladder and culminating in them joining forces and forming a mclaren super team that eventually breaks down. If you have never watched or followed F1 or lived and watched through the era in the book, you are sure to have an exciting read and gain respect for the golden age of the pinnacle series in motor sports.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fresh, interesting take on F1’s (most?) notorious rivalry. Well put together, I especially enjoyed the way the book moved into a race-by-race kind of format, which is even more fun if you watch the races/highlights as you read along. Definitely recommend this for anyone who has interest in the topic.

[Luke England · Rating 4 out of 5]

The subject matter was interesting and well researched but the writing style became tiresome to read. It was a good introduction into what was, arguably, the greatest rivalry in formula 1 history.