AYRTON SENNA - DEDICATED TO LIFE
Talent opens the path, dedication fulfills it. Born and raised in São Paulo, 1979 sees his competetion debut overseas. Triumphs in single-seaters follow. Senna tests four F1 cars. His maiden season with Toleman evidences his abilities, collecting three podiums (the only ones for the British team), famously arriving P2 at Monaco in a rain-soaked afternoon. Moving to Lotus next year is the perfect match. Ayrton masters the Portuguese rain to win his fist GRAND PRIX.
More than in the race, Senna excels in qualifying laps. His tally after four seasons is good, yet no title. The golden opportunity is 1988, joining McLaren, with the best car. He faces the most victorious driver at the time, namely Alain Prost. A hard-fought year is decided at Suzuka. Senna is on pole, stalls the engine and restarts thanks to the pending tarmac, now in P14. His majestic comeback leads to overtake Prost for first. Ayrton Senna becomes WORLD CHAMPION.
One season later, in Japan, Senna is forced to win to remain in contention. During the past twelve months, tension is the least to describe the rivalry. On Lap 47, he attempts to pass the Frenchman, but the latter closes the door. Senna wins but is disqualified for erratically re-entering the course. This never happened before. The decision is questioned. Senna, previously involved in other incidents, is accused of dangerous behaviour and the Brazilian considers retiring. He stays. Prost being at Ferrari in 1990 allows McLaren to breathe internally. It's Japan, again: Senna starts on pole, Prost overtakes him, Senna commits to the inside, they collide, Senna is two-time WORLD CHAMPION. A third title follows in 1991, yet again at Suzuka. The fierce rivalry was motivated by desire of beating the best in the sport, for the Brazilian. No glory for the next two years lead to go at Williams. Prost stepped away in 1993 and since, the two dialogued, became friends and formed a deep relationship of respect.
The fateful 1994 SAN MARINO GRAND PRIX weekend took him physically away from everyone, his legacy, passion and personality are always here. Senna is known for heroic drives, like his home win at Interlagos, being stuck in 6th gear during the closing stages, or Donington in 1993, moving up four places on lap 1 in the rain and lapping all but one car. Further than racing, he was profoundly human, helping his compatriots with personal gains from the achievements. The institute carrying his name has helped hundreds of thousands people, contributing to their well-being and education.
"I believe in the ability of focusing strongly in something, then you are able to extract even more out of it. It's been like this all my life, and it's been only a question of improving it, and learning more and more and there is almost no end. As you go through you just keep finding more and more. It's very interesting, it's fascinating." - Ayrton Senna