Goodwood is set to become the epicentre of motorsport history this July as the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard commemorates 75 years of the Formula 1 World Championship. Adding star power to an already historic celebration, four-time Formula 1 World Champion Alain Prost will attend the event on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July.
A towering figure in the pantheon of Formula 1 legends, Prost—affectionately known as “The Professor” for his cerebral approach to racing—will take to the Goodwood Hill in two of his most iconic machines: the McLaren MP4/2B, which carried him to his first championship title in 1985, and the legendary McLaren-Honda MP4/4, a car indelibly linked to the epic 1988 season. Fittingly, the MP4/2B has also been chosen as this year’s official poster car, in tribute to both Prost’s career and the anniversary it marks.
Prost’s appearance is particularly poignant as 2025 sees him celebrating two significant milestones: his 70th birthday, which fell on February 24, and the 40th anniversary of his first F1 World Championship title. In a statement, Prost expressed his anticipation:
“The Festival of Speed is a wonderful place to experience the culture and tradition of motorsport and the full history of motor racing. I can think of no better place to celebrate the history of Formula 1, and two very significant landmarks in my own life.”
Few drivers have left as indelible a mark on Formula 1 as Alain Prost. He clinched World Championship titles in 1985, 1986, and 1989 with McLaren, and a fourth with Williams in 1993 before retiring with a record 51 Grand Prix victories—a benchmark that stood unchallenged for nearly a decade. His rivalry with Ayrton Senna, especially during the 1988 season, remains the stuff of legend. Despite outscoring Senna over the course of that year, a rule that only counted the best 11 results meant Prost narrowly missed the title.
The 2025 Festival marks Prost’s third visit to Goodwood, following appearances in 2012 and 2013. His return will form a centrepiece of what promises to be the most significant gathering of Formula 1 history outside a Grand Prix weekend, with a line-up of legendary cars, drivers, and teams expected to be unveiled in the weeks ahead.
The Duke of Richmond, founder of the Festival of Speed, shared his enthusiasm:
“I am absolutely thrilled that Alain is returning to the Festival of Speed to celebrate his glittering career, and join us as we celebrate 75 years of the Formula 1 World Championship. No celebration of Formula 1 would be complete without him.”
Prost joins a prestigious line-up that includes the recently announced tribute to four-time World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty and the show-stopping Central Feature by Gordon Murray Automotive. With Friday and Saturday tickets already sold out, motorsport fans still have a chance to be part of history with Thursday and limited Sunday tickets available at goodwood.com.
As anticipation builds, Goodwood is poised to deliver a fitting tribute not just to the sport of Formula 1, but to one of its most intelligent, iconic, and enduring champions.
