Alain Prost, the four-time Formula One world champion, was injured during a masked gang raid on his home in the south of France late on Tuesday evening, local authorities have confirmed. The incident, which occurred in the affluent suburb of La Gaude near Nice, has raised serious questions about security for high-profile figures in the region.
Prost, 69, was reportedly assaulted by a group of armed assailants who forced entry into his residence. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries to his arm and was treated at a nearby hospital before being released. His wife and son, who were present at the time, were unharmed but deeply shaken.
Local police confirmed that an investigation is under way, with sources describing the attack as a targeted home invasion. The assailants, described as wearing masks and wielding weapons, fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash and valuables. No arrests have been made as of this report.
Prost, a towering figure in motorsport history, won his four world championships between 1985 and 1993. He remains a prominent public figure in France, serving as an ambassador for the FIA and as a team executive. His home, a sprawling estate, had been considered a secure compound until the breach.
The attack has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit motorsport community. Fellow drivers and officials have expressed concern, with many calling for increased security measures. The incident also underscores a broader trend of high-profile home invasions in the French Riviera, where wealthy residents have become frequent targets of organised crime.
Residents of La Gaude have expressed alarm, demanding stronger police presence. Local mayor Jean-Michel Leredde described the attack as an affront to communal safety and pledged cooperation with national investigators.
This is a developing story. Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.
