Ayrton Senna da Silva information & statistics

Biography

Ayrton Senna Biography

1984 Monaco F1 GP Senna driving the Toleman TG184 Hart

Widely regarded as the greatest driver of all time, Ayrton Senna’s name will forever live amongst the sporting greats such as Pele, Nicklaus, Tendulkar and Federer. The Brazilian may have only won three world championships, four short of the record held by Michael Schumacher, but he competed during the sports most gifted era and was the most gifted driver.

Ayrton Senna’s premature death in 1994, after a crash at Imola, put the whole of Brazil in a state of mourning. In a country where football rules, it was the death of a racer which brought it to a stand still. Senna was by no means perfect, a trait amongst the spots elite. He drove on the limits, and often beyond, he argued and he fought and was a part of the sport’s most bitter rivalry with Alain Prost.

Born to a wealthy family in suburban Sao Paolo in 1960, Senna was driving custom built go-karts from the age of four. His talent and enthusiasm was embraced and by the age of 13 he was racing competitively in junior go-karting. After a successful period in Britain, winning junior formula championships, he signed for low key formula one team Toleman in 1984. The first sign of his great talent came in Monaco where he started 13th but quickly rose to second before closing in on leader Alain Prost fast. Unfortunately the race was stopped due to the adverse weather, but the name of Senna was on everyone’s lips (1984 Monaco F1 GP result).

Ayrton Senna driving the Lotus 97T (1985)

After an impressive induction to formula one Ayrton Senna signed for Lotus, where he would spend the next three years. At the second race in Portugal he took his first pole position and then his first race victory, winning by over a minute in wet weather. Several more pole’s followed but he had to wait until another wet race in Belgium to claim win number two. 4th in the championship was accompanied with seven poles and two wins.

Lotus’s famed poor reliability cost the Brazilian the next season despite two wins and eight poles. Senna was beginning to establish himself as the fastest driver on the grid and in 1987 he won his first race around Monaco, the first of six, and finished third in the standings. The following year saw him leave Lotus and move to McLaren as team mate to double world champion Alain Prost, thus sparking a rivalry that is still seen as the biggest in the sports history.

Teammates Senna & Prost worst moment in Japan 1989

The 1988 McLaren was an all-conquering car and the two squabbled all season, often with underhand tactics. In Portugal, Prost attempted to pass Senna, who responded by almost driving Prost into the wall in an attempt to block him, Prost completed the move and Senna was left with a warning from the FIA. Ayrton Senna won eight races that season, and with Prost winning only seven he claimed his first world championship. In 1989 the pair’s rivalry escalated out of control as McLaren once again had an unbeatable car. Senna led for much of the way after a superb run of victories early on in the season, but poor reliability and a return to form from Prost saw the Frenchman lead the championship in the penultimate round in Japan, the location for one of the sport’s most infamous incidents.

With Senna needing to win, and trailing Prost, he dived up the inside into the famous chicane. However the Frenchman’s frustration with Senna’s behaviour that season saw him turn in on the Brazilian resulting in an inevitable crash. With both cars unable to continue, that manoeuvre saw Prost win his third world championship, before he moved to Ferrari for 1990.

Ayrton Senna flying with the McLaren MP4-6

1990 followed in the same trend as 1989, with Senna pulling away early with several wins but Prost coming back strongly in the second half of the season. Japan was the location again for the pairs next controversial incident. Senna took pole in Japan and requested pole position to be moved to the clean side of the track, a standard position on all other tracks. When the FIA president declined, Ayrton Senna saw this as a coalition between Prost and the French FIA president. As Prost, starting second, instantly took the lead at the start of the race Senna deliberately crashed into the side of him, retiring both cars and claiming his second world championship in the process.

In 1991, at the age of 31, Senna became the youngest ever triple world champion as he dominated the season with seven wins. This was due to be his last year with the team as he planned to move to Williams, but stayed on for the 1992 season, after a personal request from engine suppliers Honda. Senna’s loyalty may have prevented him from winning a fourth world championship as the Williams car, at the hands of Nigel Mansell, dominated the 1992 season. Senna, in response, could only muster three wins. As Prost joined Williams for 1993, Senna could no longer complete the move as the Frenchman had a clause in his contract which said Senna could not be his team mate. Senna had offered to drive their for free and subsequently called Prost a ‘Coward’. Ayrton Senna stayed at McLaren and finished third after an impressive season. The Williams pair of Prost and Damon Hill dominated for much of the season.

Ayrton Senna (1st of May 1994)

The following season Senna got his move to Williams as Prost retired. However a young German named Michael Schumacher showed his class by unexpectedly leading the championship after three rounds. At the fourth, Imola, the race controversially went ahead after the death of Roland Ratzenberger in qualifying despite Senna’s concerns. On race day he crashed early on at Tamburello corner, which proved to be fatal. Ayrton Senna, died aged 34.
The world of sport mourned a true great. The fastest and most competitive driver in the sports history has left a lasting legacy on the sport. His records may have gone, man y of which to Schumacher, but he is still idolised globally. In today’s era of Alonso, Vettel and Hamilton, the name of Senna still rings true.

Championship Results

Ayrton Senna F1 Championship Results

Year	Team	Engine	Races	1st	2nd	3rd	Podiums	Poles	Laps	Fastest	Avg Pts	Points
1994	Williams	Renault	3	0	0	0	0	3	60	0	0.00	0
1993	McLaren	Ford	16	5	2	0	7	1	861	1	4.56	73
1992	McLaren	Honda	16	3	1	3	7	1	698	1	3.13	50
1991	McLaren	Honda	16	7	3	2	12	8	934	2	6.00	96
1990	McLaren	Honda	16	6	2	3	11	10	895	2	4.88	78
1989	McLaren	Honda	16	6	1	0	7	13	781	3	3.75	60
1988	McLaren	Honda	16	8	3	0	11	13	988	3	5.88	94
1987	Lotus	Honda	16	2	4	2	8	1	956	3	3.56	57
1986	Lotus	Renault	16	2	4	2	8	8	739	0	3.44	55
1985	Lotus	Renault	16	2	2	2	6	7	775	3	2.38	38
1984	Toleman	Hart	14	0	1	2	3	0	549	1	0.93	13

Race Results

Ayrton Senna F1 GP Race Results

Podium Finishes

Ayrton Senna F1 Podium Finishes

Pole Positions

Ayrton Senna F1 Pole Positions

Teammate Comparison

Ayrton Senna Teammate Comparison