Ayrton Senna: 30 years after his death, a look back at these moments which forged his legend


Philippe Folgado // Photo credit: JEAN-LOUP GAUTREAU / AFP

Ayrton Senna and Formula 1. Few athletes represent their sport so much. The Brazilian was able to inscribe his name in the Pantheon of motorsport through his track record, his achievements, his charisma, but also through his rivalry with Alain Prost and his tragic death on May 1, 1994. 30 years after that weekend black of the San Marino Grand Prix, a look back at these highlights which forged the legend of Ayrton Senna.

The “King” of Monaco

The Monaco Grand Prix is ​​closely linked to Ayrton Senna. It was in the streets of the Principality that the Brazilian revealed himself to the eyes of the whole world, during the 1984 edition. The race took place in pouring rain, several competitors aquaplaned, but not Ayrton Senna who shows particularly agile under these conditions. At the wheel of his modest Toleman, he tries to catch up with Alain Prost, leader of the race.

MARTTI KAINULAINEN / LEHTIKUVA / AFP: Aboard his Toleman, Ayrton Senna managed to get on his first podium, in Monaco.

But he will not have the opportunity to face the Frenchman because the race is suspended, the rain makes the Grand Prix too dangerous. Disappointed, Ayrton Senna climbs onto the first podium of his career. The South American ultimately won six times on the Rock in his career, a record he still holds today.

The first victory of “Magic Senna”

In 1985, Ayrton Senna signed with Lotus, the legendary Formula 1 team, which would prove to be an excellent school for him. In Portugal, for his second Grand Prix under his new colors, he signed the first Pole Position of his career and, should we see this as a sign, a violent downpour flooded the circuit before the start. Once again, the Brazilian will be able to show all his talent under these difficult conditions.

The black and gold car makes a good start and flies away, leaving no chance to its opponents. Ayrton Senna leads all 71 laps of the race, sets the best time in the event and wins his first Grand Prix. A fantastic performance which earned him the nickname “Magic Senna”. Tears flow under his yellow and green helmet, which will become one of his signatures. On the podium, he brandished his national flag. After Emerson Fittipaldi and Nelson Piquet, Brazil has its new idol.

Senna-Prost, a historic rivalry

The first is “Magic”, he drives to the limit and takes all the risks to win. The other is “The Professor”, he likes to control every aspect of his race, he is a fine tactician. These two driving aces gave Formula 1 one of the greatest rivalries in its history which began in 1988. Ayrton Senna signed with McLaren and became Alain Prost’s teammate. At the beginning, relations are cordial, but quickly the thirst for victories and titles will destroy all possibilities of friendship between the two teammates.

They will fight two more seasons in a row for the world title, two crowns which will be awarded following clashes. At the 1989 Japanese Grand Prix, the two McLaren drivers collided. The Frenchman gives up, the Brazilian can continue. But when returning to the track, Senna cuts a corner, which earns him a disqualification and the title goes to Alain Prost. The following year, still in Japan, Alain Prost must win if he wants to hope to retain his title. At the start, the Brazilian did not intend to let the Frenchman escape, and hit him on the first turn. Both men give up. Ayrton Senna is therefore a double world champion, in an inglorious way.

Their rivalry ended on the podium at the 1993 Australian Grand Prix. Alain Prost was world champion for the fourth time with Williams and Ayrton Senna took the Frenchman to the top of the podium with him, providing a perfect conclusion. years of rivalry. Alain Prost leaves Formula 1 at the end of the season, the Brazilian takes over at Williams.

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Torsten BLACKWOOD / AFP: The last podium of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, accompanied by Damon Hill, in Adelaide in 1993

The death of a myth, the emergence of a successor

The weekend of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix is ​​remembered as the black weekend of Formula 1. Rubens Barrichelo was injured when he went off the track during free practice. During the first qualifying session on Saturday, Austrian Roland Ratzenberger lost his life after hitting a wall at more than 300 km/h. This weekend seems cursed, Ayrton Senna is considering not starting.

He will finally be present on Sunday and after the intervention of the safety car following an accident at the start, Ayrton Senna is leading the race ahead of a certain… Michael Schumacher. But on the seventh lap, the Williams went off the track at the Tamburello corner at more than 220 km/h. The shock is violent, the whole world holds their breath… The doctors intervene as quickly as possible, but the Brazilian’s state of health is critical. Evacuated to Bologna hospital, Ayrton Senna died of his injuries at the age of 34 on May 1, 1994.

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JEAN-LOUP GAUTREAU / AFP: Ayrton Senna aboard his Williams FW16.

For the record, after Senna’s evacuation, the race will resume and Michael Schumacher will win it. He who was seen as Senna’s successor would become world champion at the end of this 1994 season. The German would become one of the greatest by being crowned world champion seven times, including five titles with Scuderia Ferrari.

Ayrton Senna seen by the drivers

After his death, Ayrton Senna continues to inspire generations of drivers. Michael Schumacher had a hard time accepting the death of the man who was his idol and whom he dreamed of facing on the track. He will remain an icon to equal or surpass. At the Italian Grand Prix in 2000, the Red Baron equaled the Brazilian’s victory record. At a press conference, he could not hide his emotion when a journalist asked him if this feat was something important to him.

Lewis Hamilton, seven-time world champion, record holder for the number of victories and Pole Position in Formula 1, never hid that Ayrton Senna was his idol. The Briton also won his first title on the Brazilian’s land in 2008 and he has won the Brazilian Grand Prix three times. In 2017, when he equaled Senna’s number of Pole Positions, the Brazilian driver’s family gave him a helmet worn in races by the three-time world champion. A present that greatly moved Lewis Hamilton.

In 2020, during the return of Formula 1 to the Imola circuit where the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix was held, the teams paid tribute to Ayrton Senna by visiting the scene of his accident. Some pilots also wore special helmets. Pierre Gasly took up the design of Senna’s legendary helmet with a sticker “Ayrton Senna, forever” during this race.

On May 1, 1994, Brazil and Formula 1 lost a driver with an exceptional record: three world championship titles, 41 victories, 80 podiums and 65 Pole Positions in 161 Grands Prix. A death which caused an electric shock within the Formula 1 institutions which undertook many changes in terms of safety on the circuits and in terms of cars.





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