A global tribute to Ayrton Senna, 25 years after his death
Ayrton Senna left us a quarter of a century ago, following his violent crash at Imola, aboard his Williams-Renault. Today, the drivers and teams of the Formula 1 world paid tribute to his memory.
Embodiment of Formula 1, Ayrton Senna is much more than extravagant figures and records: he is above all a driver with extraordinary talent, endowed with a unique mindset. Always on the edge, experts notably think of his qualifying lap in Monaco in 1988, where his closest rival, teammate Alain Prost, was left 1.427 seconds behind!
But the legend of the Brazilian was also forged through his rivalry with Alain Prost, globally publicized. A high-stakes battle worthy of an action movie, with two epic endings at Suzuka, in 1989 and 1990. Even today, Ayrton Senna’s legacy endures: the entire motorsport world pays tribute to him on this May 1st, 25 years after his tragic death following his crash in the Tamburello corner during the 7th lap of the race.
25 years later after that fateful date, the small world of Formula 1 paid tribute to its two deceased, the last two on a race weekend, the Frenchman Jules Bianchi having died on July 17, 2015, nine months after his serious accident in Suzuka. And even if this year’s grid is often too young to have seen the Brazilian virtuoso on track, the drivers know what Senna represents. Many tributes were paid on social media like that of Charles Leclerc: My father was a fan of Ayrton Senna and as I grew up he became my hero.
But among the drivers who most admire the icon is also Lewis Hamilton, who is very sensitive to the journey of the Brazilian legend. The five-time world champion made sure to honor the memory of the late hero with a tweet posted this morning on social media. The Briton received a replica of Senna’s helmet after achieving pole position in Montreal in 1987, having equaled him in the rankings with 65 pole positions to his name.
« I remember sitting next to my dad, watching him on TV. I was 4 or 5 years old. Ayrton, the way you raced captivated me from the start. It brought me closer to this sport. You are the purest driver, a true master, a hero. You live for eternity!
Other tributes also poured in on social media from his last two teams, McLaren and Williams.
Reflecting on the life of a racing legend as we commemorate 25 years since we lost our friend and colleague, Ayrton Senna. #SempreSenna 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/KRo7d5sGcp
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) 1 mai 2019
25 years on. Never forgotten. #SempreSenna 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/spY36mCSSz
— ROKiT WILLIAMS RACING (@WilliamsRacing) 1 mai 2019
We all have memories of the best driver of all times because of his victories on track or his example of determination.
We invite all fans to participate of the honour #MeuAyrton, which will celebrate Brazilian hero. Share the honour in social media with the hashtag #MeuAyrton. pic.twitter.com/qZSdS2i33A— Ayrton Senna (@ayrtonsenna) 1 mai 2019
Less known but equally tragic is the death of Roland Ratzenberger on that same race weekend. The Austrian driver, also 33 years old like Ayrton Senna, was killed during qualifications on Saturday, April 30, 1994, in a modest car from the Simtek team. He had not yet had the chance to prove himself in his first Formula 1 season. His radiant smile, a testament to his love for racing, was inseparable from his persona. He, too, left the paddocks far too soon. A cursed Grand Prix that raised many questions about safety in Formula 1.
Several tributes will also be paid to Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger at the Spanish Grand Prix in a week and a half. Among them, a half-Brazilian and half-Austrian flag, presented by the winner of the race, at the top of the podium.
