 Prost akapfuurira kukunda 1977 Formula Renault European championship asati aenda kuFormula Three F3 muna 1978. Muna 1979, akahwina zvose French uye European F3 Championships, panguva iyoyo akanga ari pazvitoro zvezvitoro zveFormula One zvikwata. Pashure pokufungisisa nokungwarira zvaaigona kuita, akasarudza kusaina neMcLaren nokuda kwe. Akashamisa chikwata cheBritain nokuramba zvavakamupa zvokumhanya ari mumotokari yechitatu munhangemutange yokupedzisira yomwaka wa1979paWatkins Glen achirangarira kuti nhamburiko yechiratidzo yaisazobatsira iye kana kuti chikwata. Prost akanzwa kuti kwaizova kukanganisa kumhanya muFormula One ndisina kugadzirira zvakakwana: ..pakupedzisira ndakati, Kwete kuna Marlboro. Ndakavakumbira kunzwisisa kuti ndakanga ndisingadi kukanganisa; ndakanga ndisingazivi Watkins Glen uye ndakanga ndisingazivi motokari yacho. Ndakati ndaifunga kuti kwaizova pfungwa iri nani kuronga bvunzo. 