Over 30 Years Later, He's Still The Most Iconic F1 Driver Ever
Ayrton Senna is perhaps the most famous and beloved Formula One driver of all time. Despite his career being tragically cut short, his legacy as a driver and sportsman has stood the test of time. Here are 20 things you probably didn't know about the Brazilian driver.
Instituto Ayrton Senna on Wikimedia
1. He Was A Pilot
We all know him for his driving prowess, but did you know he could fly too? He owned multiple private planes and liked to fly them to his races.
Instituto Ayrton Senna on Wikimedia
2. His First Passion Was Soccer
Before he started racing, Senna's first love was soccer. He played as part of a youth league before his father convinced him to try karting.
Instituto Ayrton Senna on Wikimedia
3. He Was The Youngest Three-Time Champion
At age 31, he was the youngest three-time F1 champion. His record wasn't beaten until 2012 when Sebastian Vettel took his third title at 25.
madagascarica from Verneuil Grand, France on Wikimedia
4. He Was Deeply Spiritual
He was a devout Catholic and deeply spiritual person. He kept a cross in his race car and often visited local churches before races.
Instituto Ayrton Senna on Wikimedia
5. He Donated Generously To The Construction Of Monaco's Orphanage
Monaco's orphanage might've not been possible without Senna's generous contributions. He made the donations as a gesture of gratitude to Monaco after winning the Grand Prix here six times.
Instituto Ayrton Senna on Wikimedia
6. His Crash Led To Significant Safety Improvements
Many drivers owe their lives to Ayrton Senna's legacy as his fatal crash kickstarted initiatives to make the sport safer. Drivers routinely walk away from what would've previously been life-threatening crashes before Senna. Since Senno, only one F1 driver has died as a result of a crash.
7. He Saved F1 Driver Erik Comas's Life
Fellow F1 Erik Comas was in a life-threatening crash which caused him to lose consciousness while his car's engine was at risk of exploding. Senna rushed to the scene, turned off Comas's engine, and stabilized his head to protect his neck while waiting for medics to arrive.
8. He Warned About The Safety Of The Spot Where He Died Years Earlier
Eerily, Senna predicted someone would have a fatal accident at the very spot that killed him. Five years before his crash, Senna suggested moving the retaining wall back to make it safer.
Instituto Ayrton Senna on Wikimedia
9. He Was A Philanthropist
During his life, Senna quietly donated millions of dollars to various charities. His generosity has a lasting impact, with Instituto Ayrton Senna existing to help advance children's education and prepare them for the future.
10. His Nephew Is A Test Driver For McLaren
Although Senna didn't have kids of his own, he was close with his nephew, Bruno. His mother initially forbade him from racing after the death of his uncle, but he eventually returned to the world of motorsport, competing in F1 for three seasons before becoming a test driver for McLaren.
United Autosports on Wikimedia
11. He Dreamed To Race For Ferrari
Like many F1 drivers, Senna dreamed of racing for Ferrari. That dream was never realized but the then Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has since disclosed that they were in the midst of negotiations with the driver.
12. He Was Fluent In Four Languages
He was fluent in four languages: his mother tongue, Portuguese as well as English, Spanish, and Italian. His language proficiency helped him reach a wider fan base and communicate more effectively with other drivers.
Instituto Ayrton Senna on Wikimedia
13. He Was A Skilled Chess Player
As a testament to his intelligence, he was also a highly skilled chess player. He would routinely compete with rival team owner and master strategist Sir Frank Williams who said Senna would always plan three moves ahead.
14. He Had An Austrian Flag In His Car When He Crashed
Senna usually had a Brazilian flag at the ready to wave when he crossed the finish line. However, on the day of his crash, he had an Austrian flag ready to honor Roland Ratzenberger, an Austrian driver who died in qualifying one day earlier.
15. He's Still The Most Successful Driver At Monaco
The Monaco Grand Prix is renowned for being one of the most notoriously difficult circuits. Senna has won at Monaco six times, that's still more than any other driver. What's more, he won five times in a row.
16. He Was A Philosophical Guy
Senna was a deep thinker. He would talk about driving in metaphysical terms and talked about consciousness, and entering different dimensions.
File:Ayrton Senna 2.jpg: Instituto Ayrton Senna
derivative work: F1fans on Wikimedia
17. He Helped Honda Make The Acura NSX
Honda has a big reason to be grateful to Ayrton Senna for his role in making the Acura NSX a great car. The company had a partnership with McLaren and Senna who regularly flew to Japan to test drive and give feedback on the car.
18. He's The Reason Audi Builds Cars In Brazil
Shortly before his passing, Senna signed a deal with Audi to bring the A3 to Brazil. This led to the German company building a factory in Brazil as Audi Senna Ltda. which is still going strong, though now it's completely owned by Audi.
19. His Funeral Was One Of The Largest In History
After his fatal crash, national days of mourning were called across Brazil. Millions came to his funeral, lining up to walk past his coffin, and an additional 100 million Brazilians tuned in to watch it on TV.
20. He's The Only F1 Champion To Die In An F1 Race
Although other drivers have sadly perished on the track, Senna is the only F1 champion to die during an F1 race. Alberto Ascari, Jim Clark, and Denny Hulme all passed in non-F1 races and tests. We can only hope this streak continues forever.
