Jump to content

Ayrton Senna: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Reverted edits by 194.60.75.2 (talk) to last revision by DH85868993 (HG)
←Replaced content with 'Please do not replace Wikipedia pages with blank content. Blank pages are harmful to Wikipedia because they have a tendency to confuse readers.'
Line 1: Line 1:
Please do not replace Wikipedia pages with blank content. Blank pages are harmful to Wikipedia because they have a tendency to confuse readers.
{{pp-move-indef}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2012}}
{{Portuguese name|Senna|da Silva}}
{{Infobox F1 driver
|name = Ayrton Senna
|image = File:Ayrton Senna 8 - Cropped.jpg
|nationality = {{BRA}}ian
|birth_date = {{birth date|1960|3|21|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[São Paulo]], [[Brazil]]
|death_date = {{death date and age|1994|5|1|1960|3|21|df=y}}
|death_place = [[Bologna]], [[Italy]]
|Years = {{F1|1984}}–{{F1|1994}}
|Team(s) = [[Toleman]], [[Team Lotus|Lotus]], [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]], [[WilliamsF1|Williams]]
|Races = 162 (161 starts)
|Championships = 3 ({{F1|1988}}, {{F1|1990}}, {{F1|1991}})
|Wins = 41
|Podiums = 80
|Points = 610 (614)<ref name="droppedpoints"/>
|Poles = 65
|Fastest laps = 19
|First race = [[1984 Brazilian Grand Prix]]
|First win = [[1985 Portuguese Grand Prix]]
|Last win = [[1993 Australian Grand Prix]]
|Last race = [[1994 San Marino Grand Prix]]
}}

'''Ayrton Senna da Silva''' (pronounced {{IPA-pt|aˈiɾtõ ˈsenɐ da ˈsiwvɐ||ayrton senna da silva.ogg}}; 21 March 1960&nbsp;– 1 May 1994) was a [[Brazilian people|Brazilian]] racing driver who won three [[Formula One]] [[List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions|world championships]]. He [[Death of Ayrton Senna|was killed in an accident]] while leading the [[1994 San Marino Grand Prix]]. He remains the last [[List of fatal Formula One accidents|driver fatality in Formula One]].

Senna began his motorsport career in [[karting]], moving up to [[Open wheel car|open-wheel]] racing in 1981, and winning the [[British Formula Three Championship|British Formula 3]] championship in 1983. He made his Formula One debut with [[Toleman|Toleman-Hart]] in [[1984 Formula One season|1984]] before moving to [[Team Lotus|Lotus-Renault]] the [[1985 Formula One season|following year]] and winning six Grands Prix over the next three seasons. In [[1988 Formula One season|1988]], he joined Frenchman [[Alain Prost]] at [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]]-[[Honda Racing F1|Honda]]. Between them, they won all but one of the 16 Grands Prix that year and Senna claimed his first [[Formula One World Championship|World Championship]]. Prost claimed the championship in 1989, and Senna his second and third championships in [[1990 Formula One season|1990]] and [[1991 Formula One season|1991]]. In [[1992 Formula One season|1992]], the [[WilliamsF1|Williams]]-[[Renault F1|Renault]] combination began to dominate Formula One. Senna nonetheless managed to finish the [[1993 Formula One season|1993]] season as runner-up, winning five races and negotiating a move to Williams in [[1994 Formula One season|1994]].

Senna has often been voted as one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time in various motorsport polls.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://f1greatestdrivers.autosport.com/?driver=1 |title=Formula 1's Greatest Drivers - AUTOSPORT.com - Ayrton Senna |publisher=F1greatestdrivers.autosport.com |date= |accessdate=2013-01-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80517 |title=Drivers vote Senna the greatest ever - F1 news |publisher=Autosport.Com |date=2009-12-10 |accessdate=2013-01-04}}</ref><ref>http://www.sify.com/sports/alonso-voted-best-driver-news-news-khxqOjgjchi.html</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/20324109 |title=BBC Sport - Formula 1's greatest drivers. Number 1: Ayrton Senna |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2012-11-20 |accessdate=2013-01-04}}</ref><ref name="bbctop20">{{cite web|last=talent|first=Formula|title=Formula 1's greatest drivers. Number 1: Ayrton Senna |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/20324109 |publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 November 2012|accessdate=22 November 2012}}</ref> He was recognised for his qualifying speed over one lap and from [[1989 Formula One Season|1989]] until [[2006 Formula One Season|2006]] held the record for most [[pole position]]s. He was also acclaimed for his wet weather performances, such as the [[1984 Monaco Grand Prix]], the [[1985 Portuguese Grand Prix]], and the [[1993 European Grand Prix]]. He holds a record six victories at the prestigious [[Monaco Grand Prix]], and is the third most successful driver of all time in terms of [[Most Grand Prix wins|race wins]]. Senna courted controversy throughout his career, particularly during his turbulent rivalry with Alain Prost. Both the 1989 Championship won by Prost and the 1990 Championship won by Senna were decided by collisions between the pair at those years' [[Japanese Grand Prix|Japanese Grands Prix]].

{{TOC limit|3}}

== Early life and career ==
Senna was born in the Pro-Matre Maternity Hospital of [[Santana (São Paulo)|Santana]], a neighbourhood of [[São Paulo (city)|São Paulo]] city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://senna.globo.com/institutoayrtonsenna/br/noticias_interna.asp?cod_Noticia=128 |title=Gafisa presta homenagem a Ayrton Senna: "morador ilustre a gente não esquece" |publisher=Senna.globo.com |accessdate=2 October 2010}}</ref> The middle child of wealthy Brazilian landowner and factory owner Milton da Silva and his wife Neide Senna da Silva (whose family is of [[Italian people|Italian]] lineage), he had an older sister, Viviane and a younger brother, Leonardo.<ref name=champion>{{cite web|title=Ayrton Senna: Tragic Hero|url=http://www.f1-grandprixhistory.net/Senna.html#Introduction|publisher=History and Legends of Grand Prix Racing|accessdate=30 August 2012}}</ref>

The house where Senna spent the first four years of his life belonged to João Senna, Neide's father, and was located on the corner of Av Aviator Gilherme with Gil Santos Dumont Avenue, less than 100 meters from Field Mars, a large area where they operated the Aeronautics Material park and an airport. He was highly athletic, excelling in gymnastics and other sports, and developed an interest in cars and motor racing at the age of four. Senna also suffered from poor motor coordination and had trouble walking up or climbing stairways by the age of three. An electroencephalogram found that Senna was not suffering from any problems. His parents gave Senna the [[nickname]] "Beco".<ref name=child>{{cite book|last=Williams|first=Richard|title=The Death of Ayrton Senna|year=2010 [1995]|publisher=Penguin Books|isbn=}}</ref> At the age of seven, Senna first learned to drive a Jeep around his family's farm and gained the advantage of changing gears without the use of a clutch.<ref name=book>{{cite book|title=Formula One: The Story of Grand Prix Racing|last=Kapadia|first=Behram|year=2004|publisher=Silverdale Books|isbn=1-85605-899-9|page=66}}</ref>
[[File:Ayrton Senna Karting.jpg|thumb|Senna was successful in karting]]
Senna attended Colegio Rio Branco in the São Paulo neighbourhood of [[Jardins]] and graduated in 1977 with a grade 5 in physics along with other grades in Mathematics, Chemistry and English. He later enrolled in a college that specialised in Business Administration but dropped out after three months.<ref name=veja>{{cite web|title=100 years in 34|url=http://veja.abril.com.br/especiais/extras/fechado/senna04.html|publisher=Veja|date=3 May 1994|accessdate=24 August 2012|language=Portuguese}}</ref> Overall, his grades amounted up to 68%.<ref name=child />

Senna's first kart was a small 1&nbsp;[[Horsepower|HP]] go-kart, built by his father using a lawnmower engine. Senna started racing karts at Interlagos and entered [[karting]] competition at the age of 13.<ref name=video>"Ayrton Senna – The Right to Win (2004)</ref> He started his first race on pole position. Senna faced rivals who were some years older than him but managed to lead most of the race before retiring from a collision with a rival. His father supported his son and Senna was soon managed by Lucio Pascal Gascon.<ref>''Ayrton Senna: Racing in My Blood, Official Video Biography'' (Kultur Video, 1991).</ref> Senna won South American Kart Championship in 1977. He contested the [[Karting World Championship]] each year from 1978 to 1982, finishing runner-up in 1979 and 1980.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motorsportsetc.com/info/senna.htm|title=Ayrton Senna – Racing Career|publisher=MotorSports Etc}}</ref> He was the team-mate of [[Terry Fullerton]] in 1978, whom Senna later felt was the rival he got the most satisfaction from racing against.<ref name=senna>{{cite news|last=Calkin|first=Jessamy|title=Senna: the driver who lit up Formula One|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/8524259/Senna-the-driver-who-lit-up-Formula-One.html|publisher=The Telegraph|date=20 May 2011|accessdate=15 August 2012}}</ref>

In 1981, Senna moved to England to begin [[Open wheel car|single-seater]] racing, winning the [[RAC plc|RAC]] and [[Townsend Thoreson|Townsend-Thoreson]] [[Formula Ford]] 1600 Championships that year with the [[Van Diemen]] team. Despite this, Senna initially did not believe he would continue in motorsport. At the end of the season, under pressure from his parents to take up a role in the family business, Senna announced his retirement from Formula Ford and returned to Brazil.<ref name=child /><ref>Hilton 1999 pp. 38–40</ref> Before leaving England, however, Senna was offered a drive with a Formula Ford 2000 team for £10,000. Back in Brazil, he decided to take up this offer and returned to live in England. As ''Silva'' is a very common [[Brazilian name]], he adopted his mother's maiden name, ''Senna''.<ref>Hilton (2005), pp. 9, 33–43, 154.</ref> Senna went on to win the 1982 British and European Formula Ford 2000 championships under that surname.<ref>{{cite news|title=From the Vault: F1 is robbed one of its most dazzling talents|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/apr/30/formulaone|publisher=The Guardian|accessdate=30 April 2008| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20080505113059/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/apr/30/formulaone| archivedate= 5 May 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no| date=30 April 2008}}</ref> For that season, Senna arrived with sponsorship from Banerj and Pool.<ref name=child />

In 1983, Senna drove in the [[British Formula Three Championship]] with the [[West Surrey Racing]] team. He dominated the first half of the season until [[Martin Brundle]], driving a similar car for [[Jordan Grand Prix#Early history|Eddie Jordan Racing]], closed the gap in the second part of the championship. Senna won the title at the final round after a closely fought and, at times, acrimonious battle.<ref>Hilton, Christopher, ''Ayrton Senna&nbsp;– The Complete Story'' (2004), pp. 99–116.</ref> In November that year, he triumphed at the inaugural [[Macau Grand Prix|Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix]] with [[Teddy Yip]]'s [[Toyota]] powered [[Theodore Racing Team]].<ref>Hilton (2005), pp. 43–47, 154.</ref><ref>Greg Girard, Ian Lambot, and Philip Newsome, ''Macau Grand Prix: The Road To Success'' (Watermark Surrey, 1998).</ref>

== Formula One career ==

===Toleman (1984)===
[[File:Toleman TG184.jpg|thumb|Senna's [[Toleman]] TG184 from {{F1|1984}} on display in the [[Donington Grand Prix Collection]]]]

Senna tested for Formula One teams [[WilliamsF1|Williams]], [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]], [[Brabham]] and [[Toleman]]. [[Peter Warr]] of [[Team Lotus|Lotus]], [[Ron Dennis]] of McLaren, and [[Bernie Ecclestone]] of Brabham made offers for testing in 1984 and presented long-term contracts that tied Senna to driving later on. At his test for Williams at [[Donington Park]], Senna completed 40 laps and was quicker than the other drivers including Keke Rosberg.<ref name="senna">{{cite news|title=Senna Rembered|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3605323.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=1 May 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090503020557/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3605323.stm| archivedate= 3 May 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no| first=Andrew| last=Benson| date=1 May 2009}}</ref> Neither Williams nor McLaren had a vacancy for the [[1984 Formula One season|1984 season]].<ref name="senna" /> Warr actually wanted to replace [[Nigel Mansell]] with Senna at Lotus, but the title sponsor, [[Imperial Tobacco]], wanted a British driver. Senna, however, was determined to drive that season and certainly on his own terms. Senna's test for Brabham occurred at Paul Ricard in November 1983 and he set lap times two seconds slower than the team's lead driver, [[Nelson Piquet]] who gave Senna the nickname "the São Paulo taxi driver". Senna impressed the Brabham team and was linked to their second seat, but Piquet convinced the main sponsor Parmalat to sign [[Roberto Moreno]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Clarkson |first=Tom |last2= |first2= |author2= |authorlink2= |date=18 October 2012|title=When Senna drove for Brabham |trans_title= |journal=F1 Racing |volume=201 |series= |issue=November 2012 |pages=62–67 |at= |publisher=Haymarket Publications |editor1-first= |editor1-last= |editor1-link= |arxiv= |isbn= |pmc= |url= |laysource= }}</ref><ref>Rubython, Tom, ''The Life of Senna'' (2004), p. 90</ref> Consequently, he joined Toleman, a relatively new team, using less competitive [[Pirelli]] tyres.<ref>Hilton (2004), pp. 121–122.</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Drackett|first=Phil|title=Brabham : Story of a racing team|publisher=Arthur Barker|year=1985|isbn=0-213-16915-0}} pp. 134–135</ref> Venezuelan [[Johnny Cecotto]] was his team mate.<ref>{{cite web|title=Happy birthday to Johnny Cecotto|url=http://richardsf1.com/2010/01/25/happy-birthday-to-johnny-cecotto/|publisher=25 January 2010}}</ref> During 1984, Senna hired Nuno Cobra to assess his physical condition. Senna had been worried about his condition due to low weight.<ref name=video />

Senna made his debut at the [[1984 Brazilian Grand Prix|Brazilian Grand Prix]] in [[Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet|Rio de Janeiro]]. He scored his first [[List of Formula One World Championship points scoring systems|World Championship point]] in his second race at the [[1984 South African Grand Prix|South African Grand Prix]] with severe muscle spasms, replicating that result two weeks later at the [[1984 Belgian Grand Prix|Belgian Grand Prix]]. A combination of tyre issues and a fuel pressure problem resulted in his failure to qualify for the [[1984 San Marino Grand Prix|San Marino Grand Prix]], the only time this happened during his career.<ref>Hilton (2004), p 138.</ref> Senna's best result of the season came at the [[1984 Monaco Grand Prix|Monaco Grand Prix]], the first wet weather race of the season. Qualifying 13th on the grid, he made steady progress in climbing through the field, passing [[Niki Lauda]] for second on lap 19. He quickly began to cut the gap to race leader [[Alain Prost]], but before he could attack Prost the race was stopped on lap 31 for safety reasons, as the rain had grown even heavier. At the time the race was stopped Senna was catching Prost at 4 seconds per lap.<ref>Mark Hughes and Simon Arron, ''The Complete Book of Formula One'' (Motorbooks International, 2003), p. 310.</ref> Senna passed Prost when Prost stopped in front of the red flag, before the end of the 32nd lap. According to the rules, the positions counted were those from the last lap completed by every driver, lap 31, at which point Prost was still leading.<ref name="Autocourse1">Hamilton, Maurice (1984) ''Autocourse 1984–85'' p.141 Hazleton publishing ISBN 0-905138-32-5</ref> Senna's second place was his first podium in Formula One.<ref>{{cite web|title=ESPN Profile|url=http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/driver/1095.html|publisher=ESPN}}</ref>
[[File:Eröffnungsrennen 1984-05-12.jpg|thumb|Senna won the exhibition race to celebrate the opening of the new [[Nürburgring]] in 1984]]
Still in 1984, Senna took two more podium finishes that year—third at the [[1984 British Grand Prix|British]] and [[1984 Portuguese Grand Prix|Portuguese]] Grands Prix—and placed 9th in the Drivers Championship with 13 points overall. He did not take part in the [[1984 Italian Grand Prix|Italian Grand Prix]] after he was suspended by Toleman for being in breach of his contract by signing for [[Team Lotus|Lotus]] for 1985 without informing the Toleman team first.<ref>Hilton (2004), pp. 149–152.</ref>

Senna also raced in two high-profile non-Formula One races in 1984: The [[1984 1000 km of Nürburgring|ADAC 1000&nbsp;km Nürburgring]] where, alongside [[Henri Pescarolo]] and [[Stefan Johansson]], he co-drove a [[Joest Racing]] [[Porsche 956]] to finish 8th, as well as an exhibition race to celebrate the opening of the new [[Nürburgring]], which was attended by several Formula 1 drivers, each driving identical [[Mercedes-Benz W201|Mercedes 190E 2.3–16]]. Senna won from Niki Lauda and [[Carlos Reutemann]].<ref name="1000kmNürburgring">{{cite web | url = http://wsrp.ic.cz/wsc1984.html#4 | title = FIA World Endurance Championship 1984 | publisher=wsrp.ic.cz | accessdate =14 January 2007| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20061230194431/http://wsrp.ic.cz/wsc1984.html| archivedate= 30 December 2006 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> After the race Senna was quoted as saying, "Now I know I can do it."<ref>Hilton (2004), p 140.</ref>

===Lotus (1985–1987)===
;1985

Senna was partnered in his first year at Lotus-[[Renault F1|Renault]] by Italian driver [[Elio de Angelis]]. At the second round of the season, the [[1985 Portuguese Grand Prix|Portuguese Grand Prix]], Senna took the first pole position of his Formula 1 career. He converted it into his first victory in the race, which was held in very wet conditions, winning by over a minute from [[Michele Alboreto]].<ref>Timothy Collings and Sarah Edworthy, ''The Formula One Years: A Season-by-Season Account of the World's Premier Motor Racing Championship from 1950 to the Present Day'' (Carlton Books, 2002), p. 208.</ref> He would not finish in the points again until coming second at the [[1985 Austrian Grand Prix|Austrian Grand Prix]], despite taking pole three more times in the intervening period. (His determination to take pole at the [[1985 Monaco Grand Prix|Monaco Grand Prix]] had infuriated Alboreto and Niki Lauda; Senna had set a fast time early and was accused of deliberately baulking the other drivers by running more laps than necessary, a charge he rejected.)<ref>Hamilton, Maurice (ed.) (1985) ''Autocourse 1985&nbsp;– 1986'' Hazleton publishing pp.74 & 104 ISBN 0-905138-38-4</ref> Two more podiums followed in [[1985 Dutch Grand Prix|the Netherlands]] and [[1985 Italian Grand Prix|Italy]], before Senna added his second victory, again in wet conditions, at the [[Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps]] in Belgium.<ref>Hilton (2004), p 427</ref> Senna's relationship with De Angelis soured over the season, as both drivers demanded top driver status within Lotus and, after spending six years at the team, De Angelis departed for Brabham at the end of the year, convinced that Lotus were becoming focused around the Brazilian.<ref>Hilton (2004), p 163</ref> Senna and De Angelis finished the season 4th and 5th respectively in the driver rankings, separated by five points in the quick but unreliable [[Lotus 97T|97T]]. In terms of qualifying, however, Senna had begun to establish himself as the quickest in the field: his tally of seven poles that season was far more than that of any of the other drivers.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mansell after Grand Prix mark|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4h1NAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mDQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1280,421147&dq=ayrton+senna&hl=en|newspaper=Rome News-Tribune|date=3 November 1985|page=15B}}</ref>

;1986
[[File:Senna Brands 1986.jpg|thumb|240px|Senna driving for [[Team Lotus|Lotus]] at the [[1986 British Grand Prix]]]]

De Angelis was replaced at Lotus by [[Scotland|Scot]] [[Johnny Dumfries]] after Senna vetoed Derek Warwick from joining the team, saying that Lotus were not able to run competitive cars for two top drivers at the same time. Senna later admitted "It was bad, bad. Until then I had a good relationship with Derek."<ref>Hilton (2004), p. 170.</ref> Senna started the season well, coming second in [[1986 Brazilian Grand Prix|Brazil]] and winning the [[1986 Spanish Grand Prix|Spanish Grand Prix]] by just 0.014s from Nigel Mansell—one of the closest finishes in Formula One history—to find himself leading the World Championship after two races.<ref>Hilton (2004), p 428</ref> However, poor reliability, particularly in the second half of the season, saw him drift behind the Williams pairing of Mansell and Piquet, as well as eventual champion, Alain Prost. Nonetheless, Senna was once more the top qualifier, with eight poles, and he took a further six podium finishes that season, including another victory at the [[1986 Detroit Grand Prix|Detroit Grand Prix]], and finished the season fourth in the driver's standings again, with 55 points.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ayrton Senna, Lotus 98T|url=http://www.thomsonstudio.com/node/62|publisher=Thomson Studio}}</ref>

After winning the [[1986 Detroit Grand Prix|Detroit Grand Prix]], two days after Brazil was eliminated from the [[1986 FIFA World Cup]], Senna asked a supporter for the [[Brazilian flag]] and drove one lap waving the flag. Thereafter, he repeated this ritual every time he won a race.<ref name=senna /> Senna also had a brief foray into rallying where he tried out a [[Vauxhall Nova]], a Austin Rover Metro 6R4, a [[Ford Sierra RS Cosworth]] and a [[Ford Escort]] on a stretch of land closed to the public.<ref>{{cite web|títle=Senna: Driving in Rally|url=http://www.wrc.com/news/features-archive/senna-%A1piloto-de-rallye/?fid=14986 |title=Senna: The rally driver!|publisher=wrc.com|date=8 July 2011|accessdate=30 August 2012}}</ref>

;1987
Lotus had a new engine deal in 1987, running the same [[Honda Racing F1|Honda]] engines as Williams had used to win the previous year's Constructors' Championship, and with them came a new team-mate, 34-year-old Japanese driver, [[Satoru Nakajima]]. Senna started the season with mixed fortunes: a podium at the [[1987 San Marino Grand Prix|San Marino Grand Prix]] was tempered by controversy at the following [[1987 Belgian Grand Prix|race]] at Spa-Francorchamps, where he collided with Mansell and was confronted by the angered Englishman in the pits afterwards.<ref>Hilton (2004), p 432</ref> Senna then won two races in a row: the ensuing [[1987 Monaco Grand Prix|Monaco Grand Prix]] (the first of his record six victories at the [[Monaco|Principality]]) and the [[1987 Detroit Grand Prix|Detroit Grand Prix]], his second victory in two years at the [[Michigan]] street circuit, to take the lead in the World Championship.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jones F.|first=Robert|title=Street Smart In Motown|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1066128/2/index.htm|publisher=Sports Illustrated|date=29 June 1987|accessdate=13 October 2012}}</ref> As the championship wore on however, it became evident that the Williams cars had the advantage over the rest of the field, the gap between the Honda-engined teams made most obvious at the [[1987 British Grand Prix|British Grand Prix]], where Mansell and Piquet lapped the Lotuses of Senna and Nakajima. Senna became dissatisfied with his chances at Lotus and at [[Autodromo Nazionale Monza|Monza]] it was announced that he would be joining McLaren for 1988.<ref>Hilton (2004), p 186</ref> Senna finished the season strongly, coming second in the final two races in [[1987 Japanese Grand Prix|Japan]] and [[1987 Australian Grand Prix|Australia]], however post-race scrutineering at the final race found the brake ducts of his Lotus to be wider than permitted by the rules and he was disqualified, bringing his last and most successful season with Lotus to a sour end.<ref>Hilton (2004), p 188</ref> Senna was classified third in the final standings, with 57 points, one pole position and six podium finishes. This season marked a turning point in Senna's career as, throughout the year, he built a deep relationship with Honda, one which would pay big dividends, as McLaren had secured Williams' supply of Honda's V6 turbo engines for 1988.<ref>"Engines: Honda Motor Company," GP Encyclopedia, printed from www.grandprix.com on 2 June 2007.</ref>

===McLaren (1988–1993)===
;1988

[[File:Ayrton Senna 1988 Canada cropped.jpg|thumb|240px|Senna won his first World Championship in {{F1|1988}} driving the [[McLaren MP4/4]].]]

In 1988, thanks to the relationship he had built up with Honda throughout the 1987 season with Lotus, and with the approval of McLaren's number one driver and then-double world champion, Alain Prost, Senna joined the McLaren team.<ref name="prostfan.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.prostfan.com/senna2.htm |title=Ayrton Senna by Alain Prost |publisher=prostfan.com |accessdate=2 October 2010}}</ref> The foundation for a fierce competition between Senna and Prost was laid, culminating in a number of dramatic race incidents between the two over the next five years.<ref>Hughes and Arron (2003), p. 340.</ref> One notable incident of the year was at the [[1988 Monaco Grand Prix|Monaco Grand Prix]] where Senna outqualified Prost by 1.4 seconds and led for most of the race before crashing on lap 67.<ref>{{cite web|last=McGowan|first=Tom|title=The fast and the furious: Ayrton Senna's greatest F1 moments|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/motorsport/05/06/motorsport.f1.senna.greatest/index.html|publisher=CNN|date=25 May 2011|accessdate=13 October 2012}}</ref> Instead of returning to the pitlane, Senna went back to his apartment. At the [[1988 Portuguese Grand Prix]], Prost made a slightly faster start than Senna but the Brazilian dived into the first corner ahead. Prost responded and went to pass Senna at the end of the first lap. Senna swerved to block Prost, forcing the Frenchman to nearly run into the pitwall at {{convert|290|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. Prost kept his foot down and soon edged Senna into the first corner and started pulling away. Though Prost was angered by Senna's manoeuvre, the Brazilian got away with a warning from the FIA. Senna would later apologize to Prost for the incident. Ultimately, the pair won 15 of 16 races in the [[McLaren MP4/4]] in 1988 with Senna coming out on top, winning his first Formula One world championship title by taking eight wins to Prost's seven (Prost had scored more points over the season, but had to drop three second places as only the 11 best scores counted).<ref>Bruce Jones, ed. ''50 Years of the Formula One World Championship'' (Carlton, 1999). pp. 221–222.</ref>

;1989
[[File:Mclaren mp4 5.jpg|thumb|240px|Senna driving the [[McLaren MP4/5]] in {{F1|1989}}]]
The following year, the rivalry between Senna and Prost intensified into numerous battles on the track and a psychological war off it.<ref>Christopher Hilton, ''Ayrton Senna: The Whole Story'' (Haynes, 2004)</ref> Tension and mistrust between the two drivers increased when Senna overtook Prost at the restart of the [[1989 San Marino Grand Prix|San Marino Grand Prix]], a move which Prost claimed violated a pre-race agreement. Senna took an early lead in the championship with victories in [[1989 San Marino Grand Prix|San Marino]], [[1989 Monaco Grand Prix|Monaco]], and [[1989 Mexican Grand Prix|Mexico]]. Senna also achieved the feat of leading every lap of those races which was not equalled until [[Sebastian Vettel]] in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tremayne|first=David|title=Sebastian Vettel wins Ayrton Senna-style to extend title advantage|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/sebastian-vettel-wins-ayrton-sennastyle-to-extend-title-advantage-8229982.html|publisher=The Independent|date=29 October 2012|accessdate=29 October 2012}}</ref> Senna also managed to win in [[1989 German Grand Prix|Germany]], [[1989 Belgian Grand Prix|Belgium]] and [[1989 Spanish Grand Prix|Spain]]. However, unreliability in Phoenix, Canada, France, Britain and Italy, together with collisions in Brazil and Portugal, swung the title in Prost's favour.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hall of Fame – Ayrton Senna 1989–1994|url=http://marshallgp.com/2011/10/18/hall-of-fame-ayrton-senna-1989-1994/|publisher=Marshall GP|accessdate=18 October 2011}}</ref>

[[File:Senna imola89.jpg|thumb|200px|Senna talking to the press in Imola during the [[1989 San Marino Grand Prix]]]]
Prost took the 1989 world title after a collision with Senna at the [[Suzuka Circuit]] in Japan, [[1989 Japanese Grand Prix|the penultimate race of the season]], which Senna needed to win to remain in contention for the title. Senna had attempted an inside pass on Prost who turned into the corner and cut him off, with the two McLarens finishing up with their wheels interlocked in the Suzuka chicane escape road. Senna then got a push-start from marshals, pitted to replace the damaged nose of his car, and rejoined the race. He took the lead from the [[Benetton Formula|Benetton]] of [[Alessandro Nannini]] and went on to claim victory, only to be disqualified by the FIA at the insistence of Prost who ran into the race marshals' office after seeing Senna rejoin the race. Senna was disqualfied for cutting the chicane after the collision with Prost and for crossing into the pit lane entry which was not part of the track.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19891023&id=G1pPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IZADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6594,2083754|title=Drama in Suzuka: Senna disqualified, Prost 'wins' world title|newspaper=New Straits Times|page=28}}</ref><ref>Jones, ed. (1999), pp. 227–228.</ref> A large fine and temporary suspension of his [[FIA Super License|Super License]] followed in the winter of 1989, and an irate Senna engaged in a bitter war of words with the [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]] and its then President [[Jean-Marie Balestre]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft00018.html |title=F1 – Grandprix.com &gt; Features &gt; News Feature &gt; McLaren versus Jean-Marie Balestre |publisher=Grandprix.com |date=1 December 1989 |accessdate=2 October 2010}}</ref> Senna finished the season second with six wins and one second place. Prost left [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]] for rivals [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] for the following year.<ref>{{cite news|title=I'm Leaving McLaren says Prost|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19860809&id=JNRHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=po4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6633,2260406|newspaper=New Straits Times|date=9 August 1989|page=18}}</ref>

;1990
In 1990, Senna took a commanding lead in the championship with six wins, two second places and three thirds. Among his victories were the opening round in [[1990 United States Grand Prix|Phoenix]], in which he diced for the lead for several laps with a then-unknown [[Jean Alesi]] before coming out on top, and the [[1990 German Grand Prix|Germany]] where he fought Benetton driver Alessandro Nannini throughout the race for the win. As the season reached its final quarter however, Alain Prost in his Ferrari rose to the challenge with five wins, including a crucial victory in [[1990 Spanish Grand Prix|Spain]] where he and teammate [[Nigel Mansell]] finished 1–2 for the Scuderia. Senna had gone out with a damaged radiator and the gap between Senna and Prost was now reduced to 11 points with two races remaining.<ref>{{cite web|title=1990 – Senna's Revenge|url=http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/f1-information/seasons/1990-formula-one-season-history-sennas-revenge/|publisher=F1 Fanatic}}</ref>

At the penultimate round of the Championship in [[1990 Japanese Grand Prix|Japan]] at Suzuka, where Senna and Prost collided the previous year, Senna took pole ahead of Prost. Before qualifying Senna had sought assurances from the organizers to move pole position onto the clean side of the racetrack. After qualifying FIA president Balestre denied Senna's request, leaving Senna to start on the dirty side and Prost on the clean side. At the start Prost pulled ahead of Senna, who immediately tried to re-pass Prost at the first corner. Prost turned in and the cars collided at 270&nbsp;km/h (170&nbsp;mph) and spun out of the race, making Senna world champion.<ref>Menard and Vassal (2003), pp. 106–107.</ref>

A year later, after taking his third world championship, Senna explained to the press his actions of the previous year in Suzuka. He maintained that prior to qualifying fastest, he had sought and received assurances from race officials that pole position would be changed to the left-hand, clean side of the track, only to find this decision reversed by [[Jean-Marie Balestre]] after he had taken pole.<ref>Menard and Vassal(2003), p. 107.</ref> Senna said that he was not going to accept what he saw as unfair decision-making by Balestre, including his 1989 disqualification and the incorrect pole position in 1990.<ref>"Senna blows his top at Suzuka," printed from www.autosport.com on 30 May 2007</ref> Senna stated that no matter what happened he would not yield the corner and that Prost taking his normal racing line would result in an accident. Prost would later go on record slamming Senna's actions as "disgusting", saying that he seriously considered retiring from the sport after that incident.<ref name="prostfan.com"/>

;1991
[[File:Ayrton Senna 1991 USA 3.jpg|thumb|240px|Senna won the [[1991 United States Grand Prix]] in his [[McLaren MP4/6]].]]

In [[1991 Formula One season|1991]] Senna became the youngest ever three-time world champion, taking seven wins and increasing his pole position record to 60. Prost, because of the downturn in performance at Ferrari, was no longer a serious competitor. In pre-season testing, Senna made public misgivings about the car's competitiveness that used a Honda V10 stating that the engine was not as powerful as the V12.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Codling |first1=Stuart|last2=Mann|first2=James|last3=Windsor|first3=Peter|last4=Murray|first4=Gordon|title=Art of the Formula 1 Race Car |authorlink= |publisher=Motorbooks |location= |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-7603-3731-8 |pages= |page=177 |accessdate=7 November 2012 |url=}}</ref> Senna won the first four races. By mid-season, Mansell in the more advanced Williams was able to put up a challenge. There were some memorable moments, such as at the [[1991 Spanish Grand Prix|Spanish Grand Prix]] when Senna and Mansell went wheel to wheel with only centimetres to spare, at over 320&nbsp;km/h (200&nbsp;mph) down the main straight, a race that the Briton eventually won. Quite a different spectacle was offered following Mansell's victory in the [[1991 British Grand Prix|British Grand Prix]] at Silverstone. Senna's car had come to a halt on the final lap but he was not left stranded out on the circuit, as Mansell pulled over on his parade lap and allowed the Brazilian to ride on the Williams side-pod back to the pits. Before [[1991 Mexican Grand Prix|the Mexican Grand Prix]], Senna was injured in a jet skiing accident near São Paulo for which he required stitches on the back of his head. During qualifying for the race, he crashed into a tyre barrier and his car rolled over.<ref>{{cite news|title=Senna returns to the front of the pack|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vYJUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EpADAAAAIBAJ&pg=5472,2118430&dq=ayrton+senna+mexico&hl=en|newspaper=New Straits Times|date=6 July 1991|page=47}}</ref>

Though Senna's consistency and the Williams's unreliability at the beginning of the season gave him an early advantage, Senna insisted that Honda step up their engine development program and demanded further improvements to the car before it was too late. These modifications enabled him to make a late season push and he managed to win three more races to secure the championship, which was settled for good in [[1991 Japanese Grand Prix|Japan]] (yet again) when Mansell (who needed to win), went off at the first corner while running third and beached his Williams-Renault into the gravel trap. Senna finished second, handing the victory to teammate [[Gerhard Berger]] at the last corner as a thank-you gesture for his support over the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=o_ROAAAAIBAJ&sjid=m4wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5769,2993516&dq=ayrton+senna&hl=en|title=Senna gives up win for driver's title|newspaper=Boca Raton News|date=21 October 1991|page=11}}</ref> Senna was planning to move to the Williams team for the 1992 season, but Honda's CEO, [[Nobuhiko Kawamoto]], personally requested that he remain at McLaren-Honda, which Senna did out of a sense of loyalty.<ref>Ernesto Rodrigues, ''Ayrton: The Hero Revealed'' (1994)</ref>

;1992
[[File:Ayrton Senna 1992 Monaco.jpg|thumb|Ayrton Senna driving the [[McLaren MP4/7A]] at Monte-Carlo]]
In 1992, Senna's determination to win manifested itself in dismay at McLaren's inability to challenge Williams's all-conquering [[Williams FW14|FW14B]] car.<ref>Menard and Vassal (2003), pp. 129–130.</ref> McLaren's new car for the season had several shortcomings. There was delay in getting the new model running (it debuted in the third race of the season, the Brazilian Grand Prix) and in addition to lacking active suspension, the new car suffered from reliability issues, was unpredictable in fast corners, while its Honda V12 engine was no longer the most powerful on the circuit.<ref>Menard and Vassal (2003), pp. 128–129.</ref> Senna scored wins in Monaco, Hungary, and Italy that year. During qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, French driver [[Érik Comas]] crashed heavily and Senna was the first to arrive at the scene. He got out of his car and ran across the track to help the Frenchman, disregarding his own safety in an effort to aid a fellow driver. He later went to visit Comas in hospital. Senna finished fourth overall in the championship, behind the Williams duo of Mansell and Patrese, and Benetton's Michael Schumacher.<ref>Jones (1999), pp. 253, 257.</ref><ref>Collings and Edworthy (2002), pp. 244–247.</ref>

Senna's relationship with Schumacher had deteriorated throughout 1992. At the [[1992 Brazilian Grand Prix|Brazilian Grand Prix]], Schumacher accused Senna of 'playing around' while attempting to overtake Senna, who had a problem with his engine. At the [[1992 French Grand Prix|French Grand Prix]] Schumacher collided with Senna, resulting in Senna's retirement. Senna later confronted Schumacher, who admitted responsibility for the accident. At a test session for the [[1992 German Grand Prix|German Grand Prix]] Senna and Schumacher had a confrontation in the pits, with Senna grabbing Schumacher by the collar and accusing him of endangering him by blocking him on the track.<ref>{{cite news|title=Motor Racing: Testy times for Senna and Schumacher|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing-testy-times-for-senna-and-schumacher-1533774.html|publisher=The Independent|date=17 July 1992|accessdate=14 October 2012}}</ref>

;1993
[[File:AyrtonSennaAtHockheimGP1993-2.jpg|thumb|240px|Senna came from the back of the field to finish fourth at the [[1993 German Grand Prix]] at [[Hockenheim]].]]

Questions about Senna's intentions for 1993 lingered throughout 1992, as he did not have a contract with any team by the end of the year. Ferrari offered him a contract which Senna discussed with Niki Lauda but decided to decline the offer.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ferrari fail in attempt to recurit Senna|newspaper=New Straits Times|date=21 August 1992|page=45}}</ref> He felt the McLaren cars were less competitive than in previous years (especially after Honda bowed out of Formula 1 at the end of the 1992 season and preseason testing with a Lamborghini V12 unit proved fruitless). Joining Williams alongside Prost (who had secured a drive for the team for 1993) became impossible, since Prost had a clause on his contract vetoing Senna as a team-mate, even though the Brazilian offered to drive for free. An infuriated Senna called Prost a coward in a press conference in Estoril.<ref>Menard and Vassal (2003), pp. 129–132.</ref><ref>Collings and Edworthy (2002), p. 239, 250.</ref> In December, Senna went to Phoenix, Arizona and tested [[Emerson Fittipaldi]]'s [[Penske Racing|Penske]] [[Champ Car|IndyCar]].<ref>Menard and Vassal (2003), p. 132.</ref> McLaren boss [[Ron Dennis]] meanwhile was trying to secure a supply of the dominant Renault V10 engine for 1993.<ref>Menard and Vassal (2003), p. 130.</ref> When this deal fell through, McLaren was forced to take a customer supply of [[Ford]] V8 engines which were two specifications behind that of Ford's factory team, Benetton.<ref>"Constructors: McLaren International", GP Encyclopedia, printed from www.grandprix.com on 30 May 2007.</ref> McLaren hoped to make up for the inferior horsepower with mechanical sophistication, including an effective active suspension system.<ref name="autogenerated1">"History of McLaren: Time Line – the 1990s." printed from www.mclaren.com on 30 May 2007.</ref> Dennis then finally persuaded Senna to return to McLaren. The Brazilian, however, agreed only to sign up for the first race in South Africa, where he would assess whether McLaren's equipment was competitive enough for him to put in a good season. After driving McLaren's 1993 car, Senna concluded that the new car had a surprising potential, albeit the engine was still down on power and would be no match for Prost's Williams Renault.<ref>Menard and Vassal (2003), p. 133.</ref> Senna declined to sign a one-year contract but agreed to drive on a race-by-race basis, eventually staying for the year.<ref>Collings and Edworthy (2002), p. 250.</ref>

In the opening race in [[1993 South African Grand Prix|South Africa]], Senna finished in second place after surviving a collision with Schumacher.<ref>"Grand Prix Results: South African GP, 1993", GP Encyclopedia, printed from www.grandprix.com on 30 May 2007.</ref> Senna won in changing conditions in [[1993 Brazilian Grand Prix|Brazil]] and [[1993 European Grand Prix|Donington]]. The latter has often been regarded as one of Senna's greatest victories.<ref>Collings and Edworthy (2002), p. 250</ref> He was fifth at the first corner and led the race at the end of the first lap going on to lap all but 2nd place in a race where up to seven pit stops were required by some drivers for rain or slick tyres.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1993/86/|title=1993 European Grand Prix|publisher=http://www.formula1.com|accessdate=16 July 2011| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110606050843/http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1993/86/| archivedate= 6 June 2011 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>Menard and Vassal (2003), p. 134.</ref> Senna then scored a second-place finish in [[1993 Spanish Grand Prix|Spain]] and a record-breaking sixth win at [[1993 Monaco Grand Prix|Monaco]].<ref>Ian Thomsen, "Senna, Hill and Monaco: Roaring Through the Ghost of a Winner Past", ''International Herald Tribune'', Monday, 24 May 1993; printed from http://www.iht.com on 28 May 2007.</ref> After Monaco, the sixth race of the season, Senna unexpectedly led the championship from Prost in the Williams-Renault.<ref>Menard and Vassal (2003), pp. 134–135.</ref> As the season progressed, Prost and [[Damon Hill]] asserted the superiority of the Williams-Renault car, with Prost securing the drivers' championship while Hill moved up to second in the standings. Senna concluded the season and his McLaren career with two wins in [[1993 Japanese Grand Prix|Japan]] and [[1993 Australian Grand Prix|Australia]], finishing second overall in the championship.<ref name="autogenerated1" /><ref>Collings and Edworthy (2002), pp. 251–253.</ref> The penultimate race was noted for an incident where [[Jordan Grand Prix|Jordan's]] rookie [[Eddie Irvine]] twice unlapped himself against Senna. Senna later appeared at Jordan's garage and after a lengthy and heated discussion, punched the Irishman in the face.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ayrton-senna.com/senna/suzuka.html |title=Ayrton Senna Suzuka 1993 |publisher=ayrton-senna.com |accessdate=19 March 2011}}</ref> For the 1994 season, Senna had offers from McLaren, WIlliams, Benetton, and Ferrari, the team he believed was the soul of Formula 1, and to which he planned to move to in 1996 before retiring in 2000. According to his manager, Julian Jakobi, a deal was in the works with Ferrari who had already offered Senna, the most sought after driver, a groundbreaking $22 million a year.<ref name="Rubython 2004, p. 497">Rubython (2004), p. 497</ref>

===Williams (1994)===
For 1994, Senna finally signed with the Williams-Renault team on 11 October 1993 after Prost had decided to end his career.<ref name=senna94>{{cite web|last=Lopes|first=Rafael|last2=Murgel|first2=Leonardo|last3=Grünwald|first3=Alexander|title=Ayrton Senna: o período na Williams|url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/Esportes/Noticias/0,,MUL1105495-17078,00-AYRTON+SENNA+O+PERIODO+NA+WILLIAMS.html|publisher=Globo|date=1 May 2009|accessdate=21 October 2012}}</ref> Senna was paid $1 million for each race with $20 million for the season.<ref>{{cite web|last=Newman|first=Bruce|title=The Last Ride|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1005161/index.htm|publisher=Sports Illustrated|date=9 May 1994|accessdate=13 October 2012}}</ref> Rule changes for 1994 had banned active suspension, traction control and ABS. During pre-season testing the new [[Williams FW16]] car exhibited none of the superiority of the [[Williams FW15C|FW15C]] and [[Williams FW14B|FW14B]] cars that preceded it, and Senna found himself in close running with the [[Benetton B194]] of Schumacher. Senna expressed his discomfort with the handling of his car, stating "I have a very negative feeling about driving the car and driving it on the limit and so on&nbsp;... Some of that is down to the lack of electronic change. Also, the car has its own characteristics which I'm not fully confident in yet."<ref>Autosport 24 Jan 1994 Vol 134 No. 4 p.28</ref> Senna further added, "It's going to be a season with lots of accidents, and I'll risk saying that we'll be lucky if something really serious doesn't happen."<ref>{{cite web|title=Ayrton Senna 1960–1994: In his own words|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/espn/sport/story/13315.html#|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=21 March 2010}}</ref>

The first race of the season was in [[1994 Brazilian Grand Prix|Brazil]], where Senna took pole. In the race Senna took an early lead but Schumacher's Benetton was never far behind. Schumacher took the race lead for good after passing Senna in the pits. Senna refused to settle for second. While trying for a win, he pushed too hard and spun the car coming out of Junção on lap 56, stalling it and retiring from the race.<ref name=senna94 /> The second race was the [[1994 Pacific Grand Prix|Pacific Grand Prix]] at Aida where Senna again placed the car on pole. However, after being beaten to the first corner by second qualifier Schumacher, he was hit from behind in the first corner by [[Mika Häkkinen]] and his race came to a definitive end when a Ferrari driven by [[Nicola Larini]] also crashed into his Williams. Hill also retired with transmission problems, while Schumacher took victory again.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pacific GP, 1994 Race Report|url=http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr550.html|publisher=grandprix.com}}</ref>

It was Senna's worst start to an F1 season, failing to finish or score points in the first two races, despite taking pole both times. Schumacher was leading Senna in the drivers' championship by twenty points.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/photo_galleries/3636399.stm |work=BBC News | title=Senna retrospective | date=21 April 2004 | accessdate=26 April 2010}}</ref>

== Death ==
{{Main|Death of Ayrton Senna}}
[[File:Senna accident.jpg|thumb|Senna's fatal accident at the moment of impact]]

Senna's third and final race of the 1994 season, the [[1994 San Marino Grand Prix|San Marino Grand Prix]], was held on the "[[Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari]]" circuit located in Imola, Italy. Imola had traditionally been considered the beginning of the F1 season proper, on European soil.

Senna, who did not finish the two opening races of the season, declared that this was where his season would start, with fourteen races, as opposed to sixteen, in which to win the title.<ref>{{cite web|title=Interview with Ayrton Senna, 28 May 1994|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iErwQ9Y0q-Y}}</ref> Senna placed the car on pole for a then-record 65th and final time, but he was upset by events unfolding that race weekend. That weekend, Senna's feedback about the FW16 included comments about the car switching between oversteering and understeering and that the car's performance was generally worse instead of better after the engineers' latest adjustments.<ref>''Senna'' film (2010)</ref>

During the afternoon qualifying session, Senna's compatriot and protégé [[Rubens Barrichello]] was involved in a serious accident when his Jordan became airborne at the Variante Bassa chicane (the last of the circuit) violently slamming into the tyres and fence. In the impact, Barrichello suffered a broken nose and arm; injuries that prevented him from competing in the race. Barrichello indicated that Senna was the first person he saw upon regaining consciousness.<ref>Hilton (2004), p. 341</ref>

The next day, Saturday, Austrian rookie driver [[Roland Ratzenberger]] was killed during qualifying in a devastating accident when the front wing of his Simtek-Ford broke while going flat out at the fast Villeneuve right-hand bend, sending the car into a concrete wall.<ref>{{cite news|title=The incredible journey of F1 legend Ayrton Senna is released in UK cinemas|url=http://duncanblog.dailymail.co.uk/2011/06/the-incredible-journey-of-f1-legend-ayrton-senna-is-released-in-uk-cinemas-.html|publisher=Daily Mail|accessdate=3 June 2011}}</ref> A distraught Senna requested a track marshall to take him to the site of Ratzenberger's fatal crash. Senna was met by FIA's Medical Chief Professor [[Sid Watkins]], who recalled that Senna was tearful, despite having only just met Ratzenberger the previous day. Professor Watkins suggested to Senna on that occasion to stop racing and go [[fishing]] (a hobby they both shared), to which Senna said he could not stop racing.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ayrton, Prof & Me|url=http://www.institutequarterly.com/IQ-ISSUE02-article-03.html|publisher=Institute Quarterly}}</ref>

To obtain information about his injured colleagues that weekend, Senna climbed the fence of the Medical Centre after he inspected the crash site. Senna had commandeered an official's car to visit that site, yet the FIA chose not to take any formal disciplinary actions against Senna.<ref name=96hours>{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Dylan|title=The last 96 hours of Ayrton Senna|url=http://8w.forix.com/senna1994.html|publisher=8wforix|date=22 April 2011|accessdate=9 September 2012}}</ref>

Senna spent his final morning making time to meet with fellow drivers to discuss the re-establishment of a drivers' group (i.e. [[Grand Prix Drivers' Association]]) in an attempt to increase safety in Formula One, because of that weekend's tragic events. As the most senior driver, Senna offered to take the role of leader, starting from the next race event in Monaco. During the drivers' briefing, complaints were raised about the use of a Porsche 911 lead car (for commercial reasons{{citation needed|date=September 2012}}) for the warm-up lap.

At the start of the Grand Prix race, Senna retained the lead from Schumacher but proceedings soon became interrupted by a huge accident on the start line, caused by [[JJ Lehto]]'s Benetton-Ford stalling, and an unsighted [[Pedro Lamy]] ramming him in his Lotus-Mugen Honda at nearly full speed. A wheel was torn off the car and landed in the main grandstand, injuring eight fans and a police officer. The safety car, a sporty version of the [[Opel Vectra]] medium family saloon, was deployed and the drivers followed it for several laps. The Vectra's slow pace was later questioned because of the consequential drop in tyre pressures on the Formula One cars. Under those safety car conditions, video footage shows Senna pulling alongside the Vectra, gesticulating to the Vectra driver, [[Max Angelelli]], to increase his speed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enterf1.com/news/049-the-bite-point.asp |title=History of the F1 Safety Car |publisher=enterF1.com |date=21 April 2009 |accessdate=10 August 2010}}</ref> On the restart (lap 6), Senna immediately set a quick pace with the third quickest lap of the race, followed by Schumacher.

As Senna entered the high-speed Tamburello corner on lap 7, the car left the track at around {{convert|330|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, hitting the concrete retaining wall at around {{convert|217|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, after what telemetry showed to be an application of the brakes for around 2 seconds. The red flag was shown as a consequence of the accident.
Within two minutes of crashing, Senna was extracted from his race car by Professor [[Sid Watkins]] and his medical team. Initial treatment took place by the side of the car, with Senna having a weak heartbeat and significant blood loss (approximately 4.5 [[litre]]s). Because of Senna's poor neurological condition, Professor Watkins performed an on site tracheotomy and requested the immediate airlifting of Senna to Bologna's Maggiore Hospital, where he was declared dead hours later. Watkins later said that as soon as he saw Senna's fully dilated pupils, he knew that his [[brainstem]] was inactive and that he would not survive.<ref name=senna />

It is believed that the right [[suspension (vehicle)|suspension]] frame was sent stabbing back into the cockpit, striking Senna on the right side of his helmet, forcing his head back against the headrest and causing fatal [[basilar skull fracture|skull fractures]] and [[traumatic brain injury|brain injury]]. A piece of the upright attached to the wheel partially penetrated his helmet causing trauma to his forehead. In addition, it appeared that a jagged piece of the upright assembly, most likely a [[tie rod]], penetrated the helmet visor, which was a new, thinner version, above his right eye. Senna also suffered a burst [[temporal artery]].<ref>Hilton (1994), p. 386</ref>

It was later revealed that, as medical staff examined Senna, a furled [[Austrian flag]] was found in his car—a flag that he had intended to raise in honour of Ratzenberger after the race.<ref>{{cite news|first = Andrew|last = Longer|title = Ayrton Senna: The Last Hours|url = http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:UKNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F9242ED73BC537B&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=63FF7C9CECF24CA8828B27BFD2B2546B|publisher=The Times|page=30|date=31 October 1994|quote=Back at the track, in the shattered remains of Senna's car, they discovered a furled Austrian flag Senna had intended to dedicate his 42nd grand prix victory to Ratzenberger's memory.}}</ref>

Photographs of Ayrton Senna being treated on the track by emergency medical personnel were taken by Senna's friend and ''Autosprint'''s picture editor, Angelo Orsi. Out of respect, those photographs have never been made public.<ref name=96hours />

;Funeral
[[File:AyrtonSennaMormbiName.jpg|thumb|Senna's grave, with the inscription "Nothing can separate me from the love of God"]]
Senna's death was considered by many of his Brazilian fans to be a national tragedy, and the Brazilian government declared three days of national mourning. The Italian [[Air Force]] offered to fly the coffin back to Brazil, but the Senna family wished that it return home in a Brazilian plane. Contrary to airline policy and out of respect, Senna's coffin was allowed to be flown back to his home country in the passenger cabin of a [[VARIG]] [[McDonnell-Douglas MD-11]] airliner, accompanied by his distraught younger brother, Leonardo, and close friends. The plane was escorted by fighter jets into [[São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport]] on Thursday 5 May 1994, where it was met by São Paulo's mayor, [[Paulo Maluf]], and state governor, Luís Antônio Fleury. The coffin was carried by soldiers from the Policia da Aeronautical to a [[fire engine]], where eight cadets from the Military Police Academy mounted guard as it carried the coffin on the 20-mile journey into the city. Leading the motorcade were seventeen police motorbikes, and 2,500 policemen lined the route to keep the crowds at bay.<ref>Rubython (2004), p. 422</ref>

An estimated three million people flocked to the streets of Senna's hometown of São Paulo to offer him their salute. This is widely accepted as the largest recorded gathering of mourners in modern times.<ref>{{cite news|last=Margolis|first=Mac|title=Death of Speeding Star Pains a Nation Looking for Heroes : Ayrton Senna's fatal crash shattered Brazil, fueling anger and sadness|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=10 May 1994}}</ref> Over 200,000 people filed past as his body lay in state at the Legislative Assembly building in [[Ibirapuera Park]]. After the public viewing, a [[21-gun salute]] was fired by the 2nd Artillery Brigade and seven [[Brazilian Air Force]] jets flew in a diamond formation as the funeral procession made its way to [[Cemiterio do Morumbi|Morumbi Cemetery]]. Many prominent motor racing figures attended Senna's state funeral, such as team managers [[Ken Tyrrell]], [[Peter Collins (racing team manager)|Peter Collins]], Ron Dennis, and Frank Williams, and driver [[Jackie Stewart]]. The [[pallbearer]]s included drivers Gerhard Berger, Michele Alboreto, Alain Prost, [[Thierry Boutsen]], Damon Hill, Rubens Barrichello, Roberto Moreno, Derek Warwick, [[Mauricio Gugelmin]], [[Hans-Joachim Stuck|Hans Stuck]], [[Johnny Herbert]], Pedro Lamy, Maurizio Sala, [[Raul Boesel]], Emerson Fittipaldi, [[Wilson Fittipaldi]], and [[Christian Fittipaldi]]. Neither Sid Watkins nor [[Jo Ramirez]], the McLaren team coordinator, could bear to attend because they were so grief-stricken. Senna's family did not allow [[Formula One Management|FOM]] president Bernie Ecclestone, a friend of Senna's, to attend the ceremony, after an altercation between Ecclestone and Senna's brother Leonardo at Imola regarding Ecclestone's misconstrued reaction to the news of Ayrton's death and the fact that the race had not been abandoned after his accident.<ref name="independent.co.uk">{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/senna-would-have-beaten-schumacher-in-equal-cars-560807.html |title=Senna would have beaten Schumacher in equal cars |work=The Independent |location=UK |date=22 April 2004 |accessdate=24 June 2009 }}</ref> [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]] President [[Max Mosley]] instead attended the funeral of [[Roland Ratzenberger|Ratzenberger]] which took place on 7 May 1994, in [[Salzburg]], Austria.<ref>{{cite news | title = Track Topics | author=David Tremayne, Mark Skewis, Stuart Williams, Paul Fearnley | work=Motoring News | publisher=News Publications Ltd. |date=5 April 1994}}</ref> Mosley said in a press conference ten years later, "I went to his funeral because everyone went to Senna's. I thought it was important that somebody went to his."<ref>{{cite news | title = Max went to Roland's funeral | url = http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=48657 | publisher=f1racing.net |date=23 April 2004 | accessdate =28 October 2006}}</ref> Senna's grave bears the [[epitaph]] "Nada pode me separar do amor de Deus," which means "Nothing can separate me from the love of God" (a reference to [[Epistle to the Romans|Romans]] 8:38–39<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%208:38-39&version=NIV; Romans 8:38–39, NIV]</ref>).

A testament to the adulation he inspired among fans worldwide was the scene at the Tokyo headquarters of Honda where the McLaren cars were typically displayed after each race. Upon his death, so many floral tributes were received that it overwhelmed the large exhibition lobby.<ref>{{cite web|title=アイルトン・セナの去った夜|url=http://www.honda.co.jp/collection-hall/episodes_old/motor/mp44/index.html|language=Japanese}}</ref> This despite the fact Senna no longer drove for McLaren and that McLaren in the preceding seasons did not use Honda power. Senna had a special relationship with company founder [[Soichiro Honda]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Grand Prix Insider|url=http://grandprixinsider.wordpress.com/2008/11/18/monday-18/|publisher=P1MAG}}</ref> and was beloved in Japan, where he achieved a near mythic status. For the next race at [[1994 Monaco Grand Prix|Monaco]], the FIA decided to leave the first two grid positions empty and painted them with the colours of the Brazilian and the Austrian flags, to honour Senna and Ratzenberger.<ref>{{cite news|title=Auto Racing: Schumacher captures Monaco Grand Prix|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Dk8eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JccEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3245,2389394&dq=monaco+grand+prix&hl=en|newspaper=Times Daily|date=16 May 1994|page=2C}}</ref>

;Trial

The cause of the accident had been identified as a [[steering column]] failure. It has now been found that the cause of the crash was actually the car bottoming out due to a lack of tyre pressure {{citation needed|date=April 2013}}. Italian law demands that any unusual incident be investigated. Many court cases followed immediately afterwards and the judgment went on for years, with Williams being investigated for [[manslaughter]]. The last word from the Italian Court of Appeal was on 13 April 2007. In verdict no. 15050, the Court ruled thus: "It has been determined that the accident was caused by a steering column failure. This failure was caused by badly designed and badly executed modifications. The responsibility of this falls on [[Patrick Head]], culpable of omitted control".
Patrick Head was not arrested; in Italy the statute of limitation for manslaughter is 7 years and 6 months, and the final verdict was pronounced 13 years after the accident.<ref>Gazzetta dello Sport: Senna, Head Responsabile http://www.gazzetta.it/Motori/Formula1/Primo_Piano/2007/04_Aprile/13/senna.shtml</ref>
Despite Formula One regulations, the Williams-Renault team was allowed to extract Senna's black boxes from the wreck of his FW16 once it returned in the pitlane, only for them to be returned completely bereft of any telemetry, despite no external damage. Had Senna's death been declared immediately, under Italian Law, the wreckage would have had to have been immediately impounded and the race event suspended. Instead, the Imola Grand Prix proceeded, with drivers being advised of Senna's condition only at the end of the race.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ayrton Senna Biography|url=http://www.senna-web.com/eng/other/biography.html|publisher=Ayrton Senna Memorial Museum}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
[[File:Firma de Ayrton Senna.svg|thumb|Ayrton Senna's signature]]
Senna was a devout [[Roman Catholicism|Catholic]], once saying "Just because I believe in God, just because I have faith in God, it doesn't mean that I'm immune. It doesn't mean that I'm immortal" (1989).<ref name="The Huffington Post">{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/manish-pandey/ayrton-senna_b_909096.html |title=Ayrton Senna: The Faith Of The Man Who Could Drive On Water |publisher=The Huffington Post |date=1 August 2011 |first=Manish |last=Pandey}}</ref> He often read the Bible on long flights from São Paulo to Europe.<ref name="Philip">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2323502/Spirit-of-Ayrton-Senna-is-Lewis-Hamiltons-spur.html|title=Spirit of Ayrton Senna is Lewis Hamilton's spur|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK|first=Robert|last=Philip|date=17 October 2007|accessdate=27 July 2010| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20100713182200/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2323502/Spirit-of-Ayrton-Senna-is-Lewis-Hamiltons-spur.html| archivedate= 13 July 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/racing/f1/news/story?id=4565293|title=Hamilton visits Senna's grave|publisher=ESPN |date=16 October 2009|accessdate=27 July 2010}}</ref>
In ''[[Senna (film)|Senna]]'', a documentary about his racing career that was released in 2010, Ayrton's sister, Viviane, revealed that following, first the accident of his friend [[Rubens Barrichello]] followed the next day by the death of [[Roland Ratzenberger]] during the San Marino Grand Prix of 1994, Senna had sought strength from the Bible. "Faced with a night of turmoil, of conflict, no one knew what his decision would be on Sunday morning, on race day&nbsp;... 'On that final morning, he woke and opened his bible and read a text,' explained Viviane 'that he would receive the greatest gift of all, which was God himself.'"<ref name="The Huffington Post"/>

As his profile rose, Senna expressed concern over the widespread poverty in Brazil. After his death it was discovered that he had quietly donated millions of his personal fortune (estimated at around $400 million) to help poor children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/hall_of_fame/45/ |title=The Official Formula 1 Website |publisher=Formula1.com |accessdate=24 June 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090609155545/http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/hall_of_fame/45/| archivedate= 9 June 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> Shortly before his death, he created the framework for an organisation dedicated to Brazilian children, which later became [[Instituto Ayrton Senna]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Widdows |first=Rob |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorsport/2750524/Instituto-Ayrton-Senna-Gone-but-not-forgotten.html |title=Instituto Ayrton Senna: Gone but not forgotten |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=2 February 2008 |accessdate=24 June 2009 | location=London}}</ref>

Senna was often quoted using driving as a means for self-discovery and racing as a metaphor for life: "The harder I push, the more I find within myself. I am always looking for the next step, a different world to go into, areas where I have not been before. It's lonely driving a Grand Prix car, but very absorbing. I have experienced new sensations, and I want more. That is my excitement, my motivation."<ref>Collings and Edworthy (2002), p. 238.</ref>

Towards the end of his career, Senna became increasingly preoccupied with the dangers of his profession. On the morning of his death he initiated the re-formation of the [[Grand Prix Drivers' Association|GPDA]] safety organisation, with which he had intended to work to improve the safety of his sport.<ref>{{cite news|title=The F1 FAQ|url=http://atlasf1.autosport.com/2000/bel/faq.html|publisher=Atlas F1}}</ref>

In the late 1980s, to take advantage of the close relationship Honda had formed with Senna, the Japanese company asked him to help fine-tune the [[Honda NSX]]'s suspension setting during its final development stages. The tests were conducted at Suzuka Circuit with chief NSX engineer [[Shigeru Uehara]] and his engineering team present to gather Senna's direct input. Senna found the prototype NSX initially lacked chassis stiffness to the level he was accustomed to, so the final production version was further reinforced to his satisfaction.<ref>{{cite news|title=Honda NSX: Cult favourite resurrected|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/motoring/news/article.cfm?c_id=9&objectid=10773432|publisher=New Zealand Herald|date=17 December 2011|accessdate=16 August 2012}}</ref>

Senna was also instrumental in bringing [[Audi]] cars into his native country, both as an import and manufacturing business. Audi entered Brazil in 1994 via Ayrton Senna's company, Senna Import, founded in 1993. Sales began in April that year, just a month before his untimely death. In 1999, [[Audi Senna]] was created as a joint venture of Audi with Senna Import.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.audi.com.br/br/brand/pt/company/audi_no_brasil.html |title=Audi Brasil &gt; Companhia &gt; Audi no Brasil |publisher=Audi.com.br |date=21 September 2010 |accessdate=2 October 2010| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20101006064625/http://www.audi.com.br/br/brand/pt/company/audi_no_brasil.html| archivedate= 6 October 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> Senna's personal car in 1994 was an [[Audi S4]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/classificados/veiculos/ult1670u1406.shtml |title=Folha Online – Classificados – Veículos – Audi expõe S4 de Ayrton Senna no Salão do Automóvel – 20/10/2004 |publisher=.folha.uol.com.br |date=20 October 2004 |accessdate=2 October 2010}}</ref>

Senna exercised his strong entrepreneurial spirit in the early 1990s by developing his own logo, the double S, after his full surname, "Senna da Silva".<ref name="Rubython 2004, p. 497"/> This logo is meant to represent an S [[chicane]] on a racing circuit. The Senna brand was on apparel, watches ([[TAG Heuer]]), bicycles ([[Carraro (bicycle)|Carraro]]), and boats. TAG Heuer and [[Hublot]] have created limited edition watches to honor Senna, both during his lifetime and after his death.

Senna owned several properties, including an [[organic farming|organic]] farm in [[Tatuí]], Brazil, a beach house in [[Angra dos Reis]], Brazil, an apartment in [[São Paulo]], an apartment in [[Monaco]], and a house in [[Algarve]], Portugal.<ref>{{cite news|title=Europe House of the Day|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704828104576021633581862742.html|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|accessdate=23 December 2010| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110125063543/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704828104576021633581862742.html| archivedate= 25 January 2011 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>
[[File:Ayrton Senna 2.jpg|thumb|In his spare time, Senna enjoyed flying model planes and helicopters]]
Senna enjoyed a range of physical activities including running, [[waterskiing]], [[personal water craft|jet skiing]], and [[paddleboarding]]. He also had several hobbies, such as flying real and [[model aircraft|model planes and helicopters]],<ref>{{cite web|title='Remembering Ayrton': His biggest hobby&nbsp;... |url=http://richardsf1.com/2011/07/30/remembering-ayrton-his-biggest-hobby/|publisher=richardsf1}}</ref> [[boating]], fishing and riding his favourite [[Ducati]] motorbikes. His private jet was a [[British Aerospace 125]] (BAe HS125), and he also piloted his own helicopter between his residences in Brazil along with travelling to races.<ref>{{cite web|last=Moses|first=Sam|title=Still Head of the Class|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1118982/2/index.htm|publisher=Sports Illustrated|date=18 March 1991|accessdate=14 October 2012}}</ref> He was [[left-handedness|left-handed]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Do left-handers make better drivers?|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/news/262406-do-left-handers-make-better-drivers|publisher=Metro}}</ref>

At his time with McLaren, the Japanese Honda engineers would call him "Harry" because they had difficulty pronouncing "Ayrton".{{citation needed|date=September 2012}}

Senna was close friends with McLaren teammate [[Gerhard Berger]], and the two were always playing practical jokes on each other.<ref>Menard and Vassal (2003), p. 70.</ref> Berger is quoted as saying "He taught me a lot about our sport, I taught him to laugh." He calls their three seasons together (1990 to 1992) "the [[James Bond]] years" since, as biographer Tom Rubython notes, "money, success, and girls littered every corner of their lives."<ref>Rubython, p. 267</ref> In the documentary film ''The Right to Win'', made in 2004 as a tribute to Senna, [[Frank Williams (Formula One)|Frank Williams]] notably recalls that as good a driver as Senna was, ultimately "he was an even greater man outside of the car than he was in it."

Senna was married to Lilian de Vasconcelos Souza from 1981 until 1982. Vasconcelos, whom he had known since childhood, was used to an easy life with servants in Brazil and could not handle the freezing cold of England and comparatively spartan and isolated lifestyle her husband's racing demanded. Though he did not have much of an income early in his racing career, Senna insisted on supporting his wife with no help from his father out of a sense of pride.<ref name=vbrazil>{{cite web|title=Ayrton, the Hero Revealed – a biography of the Brazilian pilot|url=http://www.v-brazil.com/culture/Brazilian-celebrities/ayrton-biography.html|publisher=V-Brazil}}</ref> The marriage ended in divorce. Afterwards Senna dated several women including model Marjorie Andrade. He subsequently courted Adriane Yamin, daughter of an entrepreneur from São Paulo, who was 15 years old when they began the relationship in 1985 and often chaperoned by her mother during meetings with Senna. They were briefly engaged, but the relationship was broken off by Senna in late 1988.<ref>{{cite book|last= Rodrigues |first= Ernesto |title= Ayrton: o herói revelado |publisher=Objetiva |year= 2004 |language= Portuguese |page= 639 |isbn= 978-85-7302-602-3 }}</ref> Senna dated Brazilian TV star [[Xuxa]] from late 1988 until 1990. He then dated Christine Ferracciu, who lived with him at his homes in Monaco and Portugal, on and off between 1990 and 1991. By the time of his death, Senna had dated Brazilian model [[Adriane Galisteu]] who was his girlfriend at the time of accident.<ref>{{cite web|title= Adriane Galisteu: "Ayrton Senna está no meu coração e na minha cabeça" |url= http://revistaquem.globo.com/Revista/Quem/0,,EMI185731-9531,00-ADRIANE%20GALISTEU%20AYRTON%20SENNA%20ESTA%20NO%20MEU%20CORACAO%20E%20NA%20MINHA%20CABECA.html |language= Portuguese |trans_title= Adriane Galisteu: "Ayrton Senna's in my heart and in my head" |work= Quem |date= 7 November 2010 |accessdate=30 May 2012 }}</ref>
Ayrton was the uncle of Formula One driver [[Bruno Senna]] (Viviane's son), of whom he said in 1993: "If you think I'm fast, just wait until you see my nephew Bruno."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2009/11/10214.html |title=Formula 1 – The Official F1 Website |publisher=Formula1.com |date=12 November 2009 |accessdate=2 October 2010}}</ref>

==Legacy==
[[File:AyrtonSennaMemorialAtImola.jpg|thumb|Memorial at the [[Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari]], where Senna was killed]]
Many safety improvements were made in the sport following Senna's and Ratzenberger's deaths. These include improved crash barriers, redesigned tracks, higher crash safety standards (such as larger sills along the driver cockpit) and major cuts to engine power. The Tamburello corner and other parts of the Imola circuit were altered for 1995. This was despite calls for action in 1989, after a serious high-speed crash that saw Senna's friend, Gerhard Berger, suffering burns to his hand. No action took place after that crash because, following an inspection by Senna and Berger, they ended up siding with officials who had, for years, claimed that the wall could not be moved further back due to a river nearby.<ref>{{cite news|last=Alsop|first=Derick|title=Motor Racing: Hill confronts life on the track after Senna|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing-hill-confronts-life-on-the-track-after-senna-after-the-double-tragedy-at-imola-it-is-back-to-the-wheel-derick-allsop-reports-from-monte-carlo-1435486.html|publisher=The Independent|date=12 May 1994|accessdate=16 August 2012}}</ref>

Soon after his death in 1994, the [[Brazil national football team|Brazilian football]] [[1994 FIFA World Cup|World Cup winning team]] dedicated their win to the great racer in order to recognise his contributions to Formula 1.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/article437858.ece/World-Cup-history--1994 |title=World Cup history: 1994 |publisher=Times LIVE |date=7 June 2010 |accessdate=13 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/technicaldevp/50/08/62/wc_94_tr_part1_272.pdf |title=FIFA World Cup USA '94 – Tournament Report |date=17 March 2003 |publisher=FIFA |at=p. 23 (document page: 22) |format=PDF |accessdate=13 September 2010 |quote=...&nbsp;while the proud and delighted Brazilians were unrolling a banner on the pitch dedicating their win to the late Formula 1 world champion Ayrton Senna, who died in Imola in May 1994&nbsp;...'}}</ref> Throughout the rest of the 1994 season, Senna was commemorated in various ways. Damon Hill along with Michael Schumacher both dedicated their individual success to Senna with Hill's victory in the Spanish Grand Prix and Schumacher's world championship victory in the Australian Grand Prix.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mansell wins battle, Schumacher the war|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6ldPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZQMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4571,4500221&dq=san+marino+gp&hl=en|newspaper=Toledo Blade|date=14 November 1994|page=22}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Hill victory sparks Williams optimism|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ya4mAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mhMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3755,4641199&dq=ayrton+senna&hl=en|newspaper=New Straits Times|date=31 May 1994|page=42}}</ref>

[[File:Ayrton Senna Statue - Donington Park.JPG|thumb|Memorial at the [[1993 European Grand Prix|site of his win at the 1993 European Grand Prix]], [[Donington Park]].]]

A few months before his death, Senna had discussed with his sister the foundation of a charitable organization, based on a desire to contribute to those less fortunate in a more organised and effective manner. After his death, Viviane Senna set up the [[Instituto Ayrton Senna]] in his honor, which has invested nearly US$80&nbsp;million over the last twelve years in social programs and actions in partnership with schools, government, [[Non governmental organization|NGOs]], and the private sector aimed at offering children and teenagers from low-income backgrounds the skills and opportunities they need to develop their full potential as persons, citizens and future professionals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://senna.globo.com/institutoayrtonsenna/ |title=Instituto Ayrton Senna |publisher=Senna.globo.com |accessdate=2 October 2010| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20101009155058/http://senna.globo.com/institutoayrtonsenna/| archivedate= 9 October 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> The foundation is officially advised by Bernie Ecclestone, Frank Williams, Alain Prost, and Gerhard Berger. The "Senninha" ("Little Senna") cartoon character, born in 1993/94, was another means by which Senna extended his role model status in favour of Brazilian children.<ref>{{cite web|title=Senna's World:SENNINHA|url=http://www.sennaworld.com/senninha.html|publisher=Senna's World}}</ref>

In his home country of Brazil, the main freeway from the international airport to São Paulo and a tunnel along route to the heart of the city is named in his honour. Also, one of the most important freeways of Rio de Janeiro is named after Senna ("Avenida Ayrton Senna"). The main road in Senna's Portuguese resort at [[Quinta do Lago]], Algarve, was also dedicated to him, due to the fact that his villa there was very near (but not on) this road. A portion of the [[Interlagos]] circuit in São Paulo is named the "Senna Esses Chicane" in his honor. In the English town of [[Reading, Berkshire]], where Senna lived for a short period of time, Ayrton Senna's name has been given to an avenue in the suburb of Tilehurst.<ref>"Ayrton Senna Road, Tilehurst, Berkshire, RG41 4JQ" http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2095008_ayrton_senna_a_legend_but_not_in_the_garden</ref>

In April 2000 Senna was inducted into the [[International Motorsports Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|title=International Motorsports Hall of Fame adds Andretti|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HDgfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0s8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2027,265093&dq=ayrton+senna+international+hall+of+fame&hl=en|newspaper=Herald-Journal|date=2 November 1999|page=D2}}</ref>

In 2004, a book called ''Ayrton: The Hero Revealed'' (original title: ''Ayrton: O Herói Revelado''<ref>written by Ernesto Rodrigues, [http://www.objetiva.com.br Editora Objetiva]</ref>) was published in Brazil for the tenth anniversary of his passing. Senna remains a national hero in Brazil and his grave attracts more visitors than the graves of John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley combined.<ref name="Philip"/>

In addition, to mark the tenth anniversary of Senna's death, on 21 April 2004, over 10,000 people attended a charity match in a football stadium near Imola. The game was organised by several devoted Italian and Canadian fans of Senna, bringing the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]] winning team of [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] (who dedicated their 1994 FIFA World Cup win to Senna) to face the "Nazionale Piloti", an exhibition team composed exclusively of top race car drivers. Senna had been a part of the latter in 1985. Michael Schumacher, [[Jarno Trulli]], Rubens Barrichello, [[Fernando Alonso]] and many others faced the likes of [[Dunga]], [[Careca]], [[Cláudio Taffarel|Taffarel]] and several of the team that won the [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] in the United States ten years earlier. The match finished 5–5 and the money was donated to Instituto Ayrton Senna. Viviane Senna, the president of the institute, gave the initial kick. That same weekend, Bernie Ecclestone revealed that he still believed Senna was and remained the best F1 driver he had ever seen.<ref name="independent.co.uk"/>

Since his death, Senna has been the subject of songs by Italian singer-songwriter [[Lucio Dalla]], Jazz pianist [[Kim Pensyl]], Japanese jazz-fusion guitarist and T-square bandleader [[Masahiro Andoh]] (on songs such as "Faces" and subsequential revisions, like "The Face") and [[Chris Rea]] (on his song "Saudade"). The Spanish band, [[Delorean (band)|Delorean]], released an extended play entitled ''[[Ayrton Senna EP|Ayrton Senna]]'' in 2009.

Between 1996 and 1998, to pay tribute to Senna, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer [[Ducati]] produced special Senna editions of their [[Ducati 916|916]] superbike. Ducati was at the time owned by Claudio Castiglioni, a personal friend of Senna who was an avid Ducati lover. In 2002, the [[MV Agusta F4 series#F4 750 Senna|MV Agusta F4 750 Senna]] motorbike was created, again by Castiglioni, now president of MV Agusta. The production was limited to 300 bikes, and all profits from sales went to the Ayrton Senna Foundation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ducati 1098 Senna Tribute Bike|url=http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-news/ducati-1098-senna-tribute-bike-ar63823/picture263776.html|publisher=TopSpeed}}</ref>

In 2009, it was announced that Senna's nephew [[Bruno Senna|Bruno]] would be making his Formula One debut in {{f1|2010}}.<ref>{{cite news|title=Campos honoured to give Senna F1 slot|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79887|first=Jonathan|last=Noble|work=autosport.com|publisher=[[Haymarket Group|Haymarket Publications]]|date=31 October 2009|accessdate=31 October 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20091103022612/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79887| archivedate= 3 November 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>

The former Formula One grand prix circuit in Adelaide, Australia, renamed its first chicane the "Senna Chicane" in honour of his memory. This track—which remains the site of Senna's last Formula One win—is still used for local V8 Supercars racing after the move of the F1 grand prix to Melbourne. There is also a street named after him in the Adelaide suburb of Wingfield. The Adelaide street circuit was said to be a favourite of Senna's, and he was reportedly unhappy about the upcoming shift of venue from Adelaide to Melbourne in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ayrton Senna Blog – A Tribute to Life|url=http://ayrton-senna.co.uk/blog/f1-legacy-ayrton-senna/|accessdate=8 February 2012}}</ref>

He has been voted the best driver of all time in various motorsport polls, including [[F1 Racing]] Magazine's 2004 poll and one involving current drivers as published by the German newspaper [[Bild|Bild am Sonntag]] in July 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sify.com/sports/alonso-voted-best-driver-news-news-khxqOjgjchi.html|work=[[Sify]]|publisher=Sify Technologies Ltd.|title=Alonso voted best driver|date=23 July 2010|accessdate=27 July 2010| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20100726141740/http://sify.com/sports/alonso-voted-best-driver-news-news-khxqOjgjchi.html| archivedate= 26 July 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> In 2009, a poll of 217 current and former Formula One drivers conducted by the British magazine ''[[Autosport]]'' named Senna as "the greatest Formula One driver who ever lived".<ref name="Straw">{{cite news |title=Drivers vote Senna the greatest ever |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80517 |first=Edd |last=Straw |work=autosport.com |publisher=[[Haymarket Group|Haymarket Publications]] |date=10 December 2009 |accessdate=10 December 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20091213114607/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80517| archivedate= 13 December 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Formula 1's Greatest Drivers: 1. AYRTON SENNA |url=http://f1greatestdrivers.autosport.com/?driver=1 |work=autosport.com |publisher=[[Haymarket Group|Haymarket Publications]] |date=10 December 2009 |accessdate=10 December 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20091213114732/http://f1greatestdrivers.autosport.com/?driver=1| archivedate= 13 December 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>

In 2007, [[Prince Albert of Monaco]] unveiled a plaque in honour of Senna in a ceremony that was attended by Vivane Senna. An exhibition also took place that showcased Senna's victories around Monaco along with his Helmets that were borrowed from Senna's family and a selection of McLaren cars raced by Senna that were brought over from Motegi.<ref>{{cite web|title=Principado de Mônaco exalta seu 'rei' Ayrton Senna|url=http://diariodonordeste.globo.com/noticia.asp?codigo=179913&modulo=970|publisher=Globo|date=26 May 2007|accessdate=21 October 2012|language=Portuguese}}</ref>

On 21 March 2010, on the day that would have marked Senna's 50th birthday, the football team [[Corinthians F.C.]] played a tape in memory of Senna which was also part of the theme played at the São Paulo Motor Show.<ref>{{cite web|title=Brasil lembra os 50 anos de Ayrton Senna|url=http://atarde.uol.com.br/noticias/2101186|publisher=UOL|date=21 March 2010|accessdate=21 October 2010|language=Portuguese}}</ref>

On 25 July 2010, popular BBC motoring show, ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'' paid an emotional tribute to Senna with British Formula One [[F1 2008|World Champion]], [[Lewis Hamilton]] driving Senna's original MP4/4, with which he won the [[1988 Formula One season|1988 title]].

An [[ESPN Films]] documentary film ''[[Senna (film)|Senna]]'' was released in 2010 to great critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite web|last=McCarthy|first=Todd|title=Ayrton Senna rides again in thrilling documentary|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/01/31/us-film-senna-idINTRE70U0NW20110131|publisher=Reuters India|date=31 January 2011|accessdate=13 October 2012}}</ref>

On 20 November 2012, [[BBC Sport]] named Senna as the greatest Formula One driver of all time, after naming their Top 20 greatest drivers in a countdown on their [[BBC Online|website]].<ref name=bbctop20 />

==Helmet design==
[[File:AyrtonSennasFullFaceHelmet.jpg|thumb|200px|Senna's helmet]]
In his karting days, Senna's helmet consisted of a plain white background with notable features absent. He experimented with several designs to satisfy him such as a white, yellow and green helmet<ref>{{cite web|title=Rubens Barrichello shares an early helmet design for Ayrton Senna|url=http://www.anchorfan.com/image/rubens-barrichello-shares-an-early-helmet-design-for-ayrton-senna|publisher=Anchor Fan|date=24 October 2011|accessdate=16 August 2012}}</ref> before settling on a design that included a yellow background with a green stripe that surrounded the upper visor and a light metallic blue stripe surrounding the lower visor (both stripes are delineated in the other stripes color) that was first seen in 1979 with the design having been created by Sid Mosca who also painted helmets for Emerson Fittipaldi and Nelson Piquet. According of Mosca, the blue and green stripes symbolised movement and aggression, while the overall yellow colour symbolised youth.<ref name=video /> The helmet never had significant changes, apart from sponsorship. One such change that was Senna would occasionally alter the stripe from green to black. The tone of yellow changed a number of times, while usually a rich sunburst yellow, in 1985 and 1986 in some races he used a fluorescent neon yellow colour. In 1994 the helmet was a lighter, paler yellow to complement the blue and white of the Williams car. He used a number of helmet brands throughout his career. From 1984 to 1988 he used Bell, from 1990 to 1991 Honda's own Rheos brand, 1992 to 1993 he used Shoei and for 1994 he returned to using Bell.<ref>{{cite web|title=Remembering Ayrton: That iconic helmet|url=http://richardsf1.com/2011/07/18/remembering-ayrton-that-iconic-helmet/|publisher=richardsf1|date=8 July 2011|accessdate=16 August 2012}}</ref>

;Variant designs
His nephew [[Bruno Senna|Bruno]] bore a modified version of his helmet design (a yellow helmet with a green and blue stripe) during his Formula One career, but the stripes are shaped after an S rather than being straight, under the chin area it has a green stripe and it has a blue rounded rectangle in the top area. Bruno sported a modified helmet design for the final three races of the 2011 season to honour the 20th anniversary of Ayrton winning his last world championship.<ref>{{cite web|title=Senna wearing special helmet for anniversary|url=http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/269710/senna-wearing-special-helmet-for-anniversary/|publisher=gpupdate.net|date=13 October 2011|accessdate=18 August 2012}}</ref> At the [[1995 Brazilian Grand Prix]], Rubens Barrichello incorporated part of Senna's helmet design into his own.<ref>{{cite news|last=Williams|first=Richard|title=Spirit of Senna in the air|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/spirit-of-senna-in-the-air-1613061.html|publisher=The Independent|date=27 March 1995|accessdate=16 August 2012}}</ref> For the [[2011 Brazilian Grand Prix]], another variant of Senna's helmet was used by [[Lewis Hamilton]] and Barrichello. Hamilton used the design with permission from Senna's sister Vivane with the helmet being sold off in support of the Insituto Ayrton Senna foundation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Friday practice – selected team and driver quotes|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2011/11/12833.html|publisher=Formula1.com|date=25 November 2011|accessdate=16 August 2012}}</ref>

==Complete Formula One results==
([[:Template:F1 driver results legend 2|key]]) (Races in '''bold''' indicate pole position; races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;"
|-
! Year
! Team
! Chassis
! Engine
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! 10
! 11
! 12
! 13
! 14
! 15
! 16
! WDC
! [[List of Formula One World Championship points scoring systems|Points]]<ref name="droppedpoints">Up until {{F1|1990}}, not all points scored by a driver contributed to their final World Championship tally (see [[List of Formula One World Championship points scoring systems|list of points scoring systems]] for more information). Numbers without parentheses are Championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.</ref>
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1984 Formula One season|1984]]
!rowspan=2| [[Toleman|Toleman Group Motorsport]]
! [[Toleman]] [[Toleman TG183|TG183B]]
!rowspan=2| [[Brian Hart Ltd.|Hart]] 415T 1.5 [[Straight-4|L4]][[Turbocharger|t]]
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1984 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1984 South African Grand Prix|RSA]]<br /><small>6</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1984 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]<br /><small>6</small>
| style="background:#ffcfcf;"| [[1984 San Marino Grand Prix|SMR]]<br /><small>DNQ</small>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
!rowspan=2| 9th
!rowspan=2| 13
|-
! [[Toleman]] [[Toleman TG184|TG184]]
|
|
|
|
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1984 French Grand Prix|FRA]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ''[[1984 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]''<br /><small>2{{smallsup|‡}}</small>
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1984 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]<br /><small>7</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1984 Detroit Grand Prix|DET]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1984 Dallas Grand Prix|DAL]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[1984 British Grand Prix|GBR]]<br /><small>3</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1984 German Grand Prix|GER]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1984 Austrian Grand Prix|AUT]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1984 Dutch Grand Prix|NED]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| [[1984 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1984 European Grand Prix|EUR]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[1984 Portuguese Grand Prix|POR]]<br /><small>3</small>
|-
| [[1985 Formula One season|1985]]
! [[John Player Special]] [[Team Lotus]]
! [[Team Lotus|Lotus]] [[Lotus 97T|97T]]
! [[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] EF15 1.5 [[V6]][[Turbocharger|t]]
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1985 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''''[[1985 Portuguese Grand Prix|POR]]'''''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| '''[[1985 San Marino Grand Prix|SMR]]'''<br /><small>7<sup>†</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| '''[[1985 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]'''<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| ''[[1985 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]''<br /><small>16</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| '''''[[1985 Detroit Grand Prix|DET]]'''''<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1985 French Grand Prix|FRA]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1985 British Grand Prix|GBR]]<br /><small>10<sup>†</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1985 German Grand Prix|GER]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1985 Austrian Grand Prix|AUT]]<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[1985 Dutch Grand Prix|NED]]<br /><small>3</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| '''[[1985 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]'''<br /><small>3</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[1985 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| '''[[1985 European Grand Prix|EUR]]'''<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1985 South African Grand Prix|RSA]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| '''[[1985 Australian Grand Prix|AUS]]'''<br /><small>Ret</small>
! 4th
! 38
|-
| [[1986 Formula One season|1986]]
! [[John Player Special]] [[Team Lotus]]
! [[Team Lotus|Lotus]] [[Lotus 98T|98T]]
! [[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] EF15B 1.5 [[V6]][[Turbocharger|t]]
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| '''[[1986 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]'''<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1986 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]'''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| '''[[1986 San Marino Grand Prix|SMR]]'''<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[1986 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]<br /><small>3</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1986 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1986 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]<br /><small>5</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1986 Detroit Grand Prix|DET]]'''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| '''[[1986 French Grand Prix|FRA]]'''<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1986 British Grand Prix|GBR]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1986 German Grand Prix|GER]]<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| '''[[1986 Hungarian Grand Prix|HUN]]'''<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1986 Austrian Grand Prix|AUT]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1986 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| '''[[1986 Portuguese Grand Prix|POR]]'''<br /><small>4<sup>†</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| '''[[1986 Mexican Grand Prix|MEX]]'''<br /><small>3</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1986 Australian Grand Prix|AUS]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
! 4th
! 55
|-
| [[1987 Formula One season|1987]]
! [[Camel (cigarette)|Camel]] [[Team Lotus]] [[Honda Racing F1|Honda]]
! [[Team Lotus|Lotus]] [[Lotus 99T|99T]]
! [[Honda Racing F1|Honda]] RA166E 1.5 [[V6]][[Turbocharger|t]]
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1987 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| '''[[1987 San Marino Grand Prix|SMR]]'''<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1987 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| ''[[1987 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| ''[[1987 Detroit Grand Prix|DET]]''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1987 French Grand Prix|FRA]]<br /><small>4</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[1987 British Grand Prix|GBR]]<br /><small>3</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[1987 German Grand Prix|GER]]<br /><small>3</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1987 Hungarian Grand Prix|HUN]]<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1987 Austrian Grand Prix|AUT]]<br /><small>5</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ''[[1987 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]''<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1987 Portuguese Grand Prix|POR]]<br /><small>7</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1987 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]<br /><small>5</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1987 Mexican Grand Prix|MEX]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1987 Japanese Grand Prix|JPN]]<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#000; color:white;"| [[1987 Australian Grand Prix|<span style="color:white;">AUS</span>]]<br /><small>DSQ</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| '''3rd'''
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| '''57'''
|-
| [[1988 Formula One season|1988]]
! [[Honda Racing F1|Honda]] [[Marlboro (cigarette)|Marlboro]] [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]]
! [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]] [[McLaren MP4/4|MP4/4]]
! [[Honda Racing F1|Honda]] RA168E 1.5 [[V6]][[Turbocharger|t]]
| style="background:#000; color:white;"| '''[[1988 Brazilian Grand Prix|<span style="color:white;">BRA</span>]]'''<br /><small>DSQ</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1988 San Marino Grand Prix|SMR]]'''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| '''''[[1988 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]'''''<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| '''[[1988 Mexican Grand Prix|MEX]]'''<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''''[[1988 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]'''''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1988 Detroit Grand Prix|DET]]'''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1988 French Grand Prix|FRA]]<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[1988 British Grand Prix|GBR]]<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1988 German Grand Prix|GER]]'''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1988 Hungarian Grand Prix|HUN]]'''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1988 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]'''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| '''[[1988 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]'''<br /><small>10<sup>†</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1988 Portuguese Grand Prix|POR]]<br /><small>6</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| '''[[1988 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]'''<br /><small>4</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''''[[1988 Japanese Grand Prix|JPN]]'''''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| '''[[1988 Australian Grand Prix|AUS]]'''<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''1st'''
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''90 (94)'''
|-
| [[1989 Formula One season|1989]]
! [[Honda Racing F1|Honda]] [[Marlboro (cigarette)|Marlboro]] [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]]
! [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]] [[McLaren MP4/5|MP4/5]]
! [[Honda Racing F1|Honda]] RA109A 3.5 [[V10 engine|V10]]
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| '''[[1989 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]'''<br /><small>11</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1989 San Marino Grand Prix|SMR]]'''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1989 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]'''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1989 Mexican Grand Prix|MEX]]'''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| '''''[[1989 United States Grand Prix|USA]]'''''<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1989 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]<br /><small>7<sup>†</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1989 French Grand Prix|FRA]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| '''[[1989 British Grand Prix|GBR]]'''<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''''[[1989 German Grand Prix|GER]]'''''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1989 Hungarian Grand Prix|HUN]]<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1989 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]'''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| '''[[1989 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]'''<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| '''[[1989 Portuguese Grand Prix|POR]]'''<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''''[[1989 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]'''''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#000; color:#fff;"| '''[[1989 Japanese Grand Prix|<span style="color:white;">JPN</span>]]'''<br /><small>DSQ</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| '''[[1989 Australian Grand Prix|AUS]]'''<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| '''2nd'''
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| '''60'''
|-
| [[1990 Formula One season|1990]]
! [[Honda Racing F1|Honda]] [[Marlboro (cigarette)|Marlboro]] [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]]
! [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]] [[McLaren MP4/5|MP4/5B]]
! [[Honda Racing F1|Honda]] RA109E 3.5 [[V10 engine|V10]]
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[1990 United States Grand Prix|USA]]<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| '''[[1990 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]'''<br /><small>3</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| '''[[1990 San Marino Grand Prix|SMR]]'''<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''''[[1990 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]'''''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1990 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]'''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1990 Mexican Grand Prix|MEX]]<br /><small>20<sup>†</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[1990 French Grand Prix|FRA]]<br /><small>3</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[1990 British Grand Prix|GBR]]<br /><small>3</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1990 German Grand Prix|GER]]'''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1990 Hungarian Grand Prix|HUN]]<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1990 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]'''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''''[[1990 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]'''''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1990 Portuguese Grand Prix|POR]]<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| '''[[1990 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]'''<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| '''[[1990 Japanese Grand Prix|JPN]]'''<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| '''[[1990 Australian Grand Prix|AUS]]'''<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''1st'''
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''78'''
|-
| [[1991 Formula One season|1991]]
! [[Honda Racing F1|Honda]] [[Marlboro (cigarette)|Marlboro]] [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]]
! [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]] [[McLaren MP4/6|MP4/6]]
! [[Honda Racing F1|Honda]] RA121E 3.5 [[V12 engine|V12]]
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1991 United States Grand Prix|USA]]'''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1991 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]'''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1991 San Marino Grand Prix|SMR]]'''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1991 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]'''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1991 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[1991 Mexican Grand Prix|MEX]]<br /><small>3</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[1991 French Grand Prix|FRA]]<br /><small>3</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1991 British Grand Prix|GBR]]<br /><small>4<sup>†</small>
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1991 German Grand Prix|GER]]<br /><small>7<sup>†</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1991 Hungarian Grand Prix|HUN]]'''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1991 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]'''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| '''''[[1991 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]'''''<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1991 Portuguese Grand Prix|POR]]<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1991 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]<br /><small>5</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ''[[1991 Japanese Grand Prix|JPN]]''<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1991 Australian Grand Prix|AUS]]'''<br /><small>1{{smallsup|‡}}</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''1st
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''96'''
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1992 Formula One season|1992]]
!rowspan=2| [[Honda Racing F1|Honda]] [[Marlboro (cigarette)|Marlboro]] [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]]
! [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]] [[McLaren MP4/6|MP4/6B]]
!rowspan=2| [[Honda Racing F1|Honda]] RA121E/B 3.5 [[V12 engine|V12]]
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[1992 South African Grand Prix|RSA]]<br /><small>3</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1992 Mexican Grand Prix|MEX]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
!rowspan=2| 4th
!rowspan=2| 50
|-
! [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]] [[McLaren MP4/7A|MP4/7A]]
|
|
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1992 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1992 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]<br /><small>9<sup>†</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| [[1992 San Marino Grand Prix|SMR]]<br /><small>3</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[1992 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| '''[[1992 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]'''<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1992 French Grand Prix|FRA]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1992 British Grand Prix|GBR]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1992 German Grand Prix|GER]]<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[1992 Hungarian Grand Prix|HUN]]<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1992 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]<br /><small>5</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[1992 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| ''[[1992 Portuguese Grand Prix|POR]]''<br /><small>3</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1992 Japanese Grand Prix|JPN]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1992 Australian Grand Prix|AUS]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
|-
| [[1993 Formula One season|1993]]
! [[Marlboro (cigarette)|Marlboro]] [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]]
! [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]] [[McLaren MP4/8|MP4/8]]
! [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] HBE7 3.5 [[V8 engine|V8]]
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1993 South African Grand Prix|RSA]]<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[1993 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| ''[[1993 European Grand Prix|EUR]]''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1993 San Marino Grand Prix|SMR]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| [[1993 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]<br /><small>2</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[1993 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| [[1993 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]<br /><small>18<sup>†</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1993 French Grand Prix|FRA]]<br /><small>4</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1993 British Grand Prix|GBR]]<br /><small>5</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1993 German Grand Prix|GER]]<br /><small>4</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1993 Hungarian Grand Prix|HUN]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| [[1993 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]<br /><small>4</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1993 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| [[1993 Portuguese Grand Prix|POR]]<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| [[1993 Japanese Grand Prix|JPN]]<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''[[1993 Australian Grand Prix|AUS]]'''<br /><small>1</small>
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| '''2nd'''
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| '''73'''
|-
| [[1994 Formula One season|1994]]
! [[Rothmans International plc|Rothmans]] [[WilliamsF1|Williams]] [[Renault F1|Renault]]
! [[WilliamsF1|Williams]] [[Williams FW16|FW16]]
! [[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] RS6 3.5 [[V10 engine|V10]]
| style="background:#efcfff;"| '''[[1994 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]'''<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| '''[[1994 Pacific Grand Prix|PAC]]'''<br /><small>Ret</small>
| style="background:#efcfff;"| '''[[1994 San Marino Grand Prix|SMR]]'''<br /><small>'''[[Death of Ayrton Senna|Ret]]'''</small>
| [[1994 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]
| [[1994 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]
| [[1994 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]
| [[1994 French Grand Prix|FRA]]
| [[1994 British Grand Prix|GBR]]
| [[1994 German Grand Prix|GER]]
| [[1994 Hungarian Grand Prix|HUN]]
| [[1994 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]
| [[1994 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]
| [[1994 Portuguese Grand Prix|POR]]
| [[1994 European Grand Prix|EUR]]
| [[1994 Japanese Grand Prix|JPN]]
| [[1994 Australian Grand Prix|AUS]]
! NC
! 0
|}
{{sup|‡}} Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed.<br />
{{sup|†}} Driver did not finish the Grand Prix, but was classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.

===Formula One records===
{{main|List of achievements by Ayrton Senna}}

Senna holds the following [[List of Formula One driver records|Formula One records]]:
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|-
! Record
!
|-
| '''Most wins leading the entire race'''
| 19 (1 in {{F1|1985}}, 5 in {{F1|1988}}, 5 in {{F1|1989}}, 3 in {{F1|1990}} and 5 in {{F1|1991}})
|-
| '''Most consecutive pole positions'''
| 8 (between [[1988 Spanish Grand Prix]] and [[1989 United States Grand Prix]])
|-
| '''Most consecutive front row starts'''
| 24 (between [[1988 German Grand Prix]] and [[1989 Australian Grand Prix]])
|-
| '''Most consecutive wins at the same Grand Prix'''
| 5 wins in a row at the [[Monaco Grand Prix]] ([[1989 Monaco Grand Prix|1989]]–[[1993 Monaco Grand Prix|1993]])
|-
| '''Most pole positions at the same Grand Prix'''
| 8 at the [[San Marino Grand Prix]] ([[1985 San Marino Grand Prix|1985]]-[[1991 San Marino Grand Prix|1991]], [[1994 San Marino Grand Prix|1994]]).<ref group="N">Record shared with [[Michael Schumacher]] at the [[Japanese Grand Prix]].</ref>
|}
;Footnotes:
{{Reflist|group=N}}

== See also ==
* [[Senna (film)|''Senna'' (2010 documentary)]]

==Notes==

{{Reflist|group=N}}

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{commons|Ayrton Senna}}
* [http://www.senna.com.br Official Ayrton Senna website] {{pt icon}}
* [http://senna.globo.com/institutoayrtonsenna/ingles/home/index.asp Instituto Ayrton Senna]
* [http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/hall_of_fame/45/ Formula One's Hall of Fame driver profile]
* [http://www.driverdb.com/racingdriver554.html Ayrton Senna career details]

<span>
{{S-start}}
{{S-sports}}
{{Succession box|title=British [[Formula Ford]] Champion |before=[[Roberto Moreno]]|after=[[Julian Bailey]]|years=1981}}
{{Succession box|title=[[British Formula Three Championship|British Formula Three Champion]] |before=[[Tommy Byrne (Formula One)|Tommy Byrne]]|after=[[Johnny Dumfries]]|years=1983}}
{{Succession box|title=[[Macau Grand Prix|Macau Grand Prix Winner]] |before=[[Roberto Moreno]]|after=[[John Nielsen (racing driver)|John Nielsen]]|years=1983}}
{{Succession box|title=[[List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions|Formula One World Champion]] |before=[[Nelson Piquet]]|after= [[Alain Prost]]|years={{F1|1988}}}}
{{Succession box|title=[[List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions|Formula One World Champion]] |before=[[Alain Prost]]|after= [[Nigel Mansell]]|years={{F1|1990}}–{{F1|1991}}}}
{{Succession box|title=[[List of Formula One fatal accidents|Formula One fatal accidents]] |before=[[Roland Ratzenberger]]|after=Last F1 fatality to date|years= 1 May 1994}}
{{S-ach}}
{{Succession box| before = [[Nigel Mansell]] | title = [[Autosport]]<br />International Racing Driver Award | after = [[Jean Alesi]] | years = 1988}}
{{Succession box| before = [[Jean Alesi]] | title = [[Autosport]]<br />International Racing Driver Award | after = [[Nigel Mansell]] | years = 1990–1991}}
{{S-end}}
{{Ayrton Senna}}
{{Formula One World Drivers' Champions}}
{{British F3 champions}}
{{Autosport International Racing Driver Award}}
{{Williams}}
{{McLaren}}
{{Team Lotus}}
{{Toleman}}

{{Authority control|PND=119032058|LCCN=n/95/921968|VIAF=17258975|TSURL=Ayrton_Senna}}

<!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] -->
{{Persondata
|NAME= Senna, Ayrton
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Senna, Ayrton, da Silva
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=[[Brazil]]ian racing driver and triple [[Formula One]] [[List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions|world champion]]
|DATE OF BIRTH=21 March 1960
|PLACE OF BIRTH=[[São Paulo (city)|São Paulo]], Brazil
|DATE OF DEATH= 1 May 1994
|PLACE OF DEATH=[[Imola]], Italy
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Senna, Ayrton}}
[[Category:Ayrton Senna| ]]
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:1994 deaths]]
[[Category:Brazilian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Brazilian expatriates in Monaco]]
[[Category:Brazilian expatriates in Portugal]]
[[Category:Brazilian expatriates in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Brazilian Formula One drivers]]
[[Category:Brazilian people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Brazilian philanthropists]]
[[Category:Brazilian racing drivers]]
[[Category:Brazilian Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:British Formula Three Championship drivers]]
[[Category:Burials in Brazil]]
[[Category:Karting World Championship drivers]]
[[Category:Filmed deaths in sports]]
[[Category:Formula Ford drivers]]
[[Category:Formula One World Drivers' Champions]]
[[Category:International Motorsports Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Team Lotus Formula One drivers]]
[[Category:McLaren Formula One drivers]]
[[Category:Monaco Grand Prix winners]]
[[Category:People from São Paulo (city)]]
[[Category:Racing drivers killed while racing]]
[[Category:Sport deaths in Italy]]
[[Category:Toleman Formula One drivers]]
[[Category:Williams Formula One drivers]]
[[Category:World Sportscar Championship drivers]]

{{Link FA|hr}}
{{Link FA|hu}}
{{Link FA|sl}}
{{Link FA|uk}}
{{Link GA|uk}}

Revision as of 09:38, 16 April 2013

Please do not replace Wikipedia pages with blank content. Blank pages are harmful to Wikipedia because they have a tendency to confuse readers.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ayrton_Senna&oldid=550617042"