In 78, I came to Europe for the first time to compete outside Brazil,
In the World Championship.
It was pure driving pure racing.
There was no politics.
No money involved either It was real racing.
We did not think that karting could become a career.
AYRTON'S FATHER MILTON DA SILVA
But it has become a big part of our lives
and we are a bit worried because then along came Formula One.
May God protect him forever.
AYRTON'S MOTHER NEYDE SENNA
All the dangers are my biggest fear.
I would like to thank him because he is a good son
and this year he has worked very hard and honestly.
For me, it is more important than any title.
Few people really to know myself.
They just don't understand what it takes from a racing driver.
Somebody that has left behind
thousands of miles away, family and friends
to live in Europe.
Nothing good has ever come easy.
The time has come.
Ayrton is ready to ride in a Formula One car for the first time.
I believe it was God who gave me this opportunity,
I've been waiting for a long time.
And now it is helpful to remain calm, tranquil, relaxed.
1984
Ayrton, this is a beautiful city,
with wonderful streets to walk, but unsuitable to host a race, no?
REGlNALDO RUDDER
Indeed. I arrived at the last minute
I was impressed with the place because I've never been here in Monaco.
I did some testing
and fortunately, I managed to adapt to the track.
There is no margin for error, any error would result in an accident.
But for now, I'm satisfied.
I've traveled a lot chasing Formula One as a journalist
when Ayrton began to be noticed driving a Toleman.
Voice Reginaldo Leme Globo TV Commentator
Toleman was not a winning team.
The car was bad and had never won a race.
That's why what Ayrton did in Monaco was true genius.
Alain Prost, after a superlative start leads. Mansell is second
Monaco Grand Prix
3 June 1984 Eighth race Senna in Formula One
The two Ferraris third and fourth.
Niki Lauda is in fifth position.
Sixth, Rosberg.
Seventh, Manfred Winkelhock. Eighth, Ayrton Senna..
A Senna is coming up through the field.
He started in 13th and is now seventh.
And off goes Nigel Mansell!
Ayrton Senna has past Keke Rosberg and is now in third place.
VOICE OF GALVRO BUENO GLOBO TV COMMENTATOR
And overtakes Niki Lauda!
Ayrton Senna takes second place!
At the most dangerous part of the track!
VOICE OF JAMES HUNT 1976 FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPION
Well I think we are watch the arrival of Ayrton Senna,
Is a truly outstanding talent.
FASTEST LAP A. SENNA (BRA)
1'54.334" 103,97 km / 64.60 mph
He Is catching Alain Prost at something like 3 seconds a lap.
7 A. PROST - 19 A. SENNA POSTING: a 15.369
And that is a truly staggering performance.
Prost is waving his hand at the officials. He wants the race to be stopped.
Who can blame him?
In fact, from a purist and dispassionate point of view,
there is no reason to stop the race.
There is an offical in front of me with a red flag.
They want to stop running.
1 A. PROST - 2 A. SEN NA POSTING: 5.312 sec
He gets the checkered flag.
Incredible!
And Prost is stopping and Senna crosses the line before he gets there!
Ayrton raises his arms and gestures with enthusiasm!
Celebrating as if he won the race!
If we had continued for a few more laps,
I am sure Ayrton would have passed him.
I had a serious chance of winning.
But until you cross the finishing line in first position,
it is impossible to make a prediction.
Formula One is politics, money
and while you are making your way through it, you must deal with such things.
A tragic outcome for Senna. However,
While he won't be world champion this year,
He certainly will in the future, if his career will continues.
Ayrton Senna the new star of Formula One!
Appearing for the first time on the Formula One podium
after a fantastic performance.
What will you do next year?
Will you stay with the Toleman team?
-What are your plans now? -I do not know.
Still do not know. I did not take any decision. There's nothing definite.
We will have to wait and see what happens.
You will not be satisfied until you are in a winnign position are you?
I beleive if you are doing something like competing
You either do well or you forget it.
1985
Lotus
Lotus was the perfect place for Aryton to move too.
Voice of John Bisignano ESPN Commentator
It was a team that had won championships and had won many Grand Prix
and worked very hard to give Ayrton, all the facilties
he needed to win.
When I first come to Formula One in 1984,
I was starting
I had so much to learn and achieve.
Any positive result constituted a step forward
and gave me extra motivation.
Then I came in a larger team, Lotus,
and have continued to grow.
I'm still growing.
When I have problems, I always look at the next race.
If I did not have this possibility, maybe next or the next five
will get better.
I always try to improve.
Even as a child, he always knew what he wanted
and he always got it.
Ayrton's mother Neyde Senna
For example, he always paid attention in the classroom at school,
so he didn't have to study at home
and so he had more time to play on his go-kart.
There's no doubt that Senna came from a background of privalige.
Voice of Richard Williams Sports journalist, The Guardian
His family was very comfortably off.
When his parents recognised that his ambition was to be a racing driver,
they had no problems backing his early efforts in go-karts.
But it would be a great mistake to think that he was able to buy his way into Formula 1.
He realized
that in order to leave a deep lasting impression on Formula One
had to fight his way into it by virtue of his talent.
Grand Prix of Portugal - April 21, 1985 Second Ayrton race with Lotus
Ayrton was exceptional when it rained.
Item Reginaldo Leme Commentator Globe
When the conditions were bad and the track became slippery
had a higher gear.
The Estoril race was incredible.
Lapped all the cars except one.
It is wonderful! An extraordinary feeling.
I am very happy because, in my second year in Formula One,
I made my first dream, that is to win a Grand Prix.
It is something unique.
It's like a drug.
A feeling very strong and intense.
Once established, you can not help it.
They Mili Okada Japanese television,
Fuji TV. I am a TV personality, not a journalist, and then ...
Okay. Let's have a picture together.
Many Japanese girls
I'm a fan of Mr. Senna, I think.
Now I am close to him and I'm so nervous ...
Come and visit Japan. See you soon.
-Thanks. A kiss. -Thanks.
Hello! Another kiss.
Just a word Can you describe the style of Ayrton:
"Fast".
Drove cars beyond their design capacity.
Restrained only at the last. It flew through the corners, skirting the edge.
On the track, danced. Continuously grazed the disaster,
but always managed to stay on track.
As I watched Aryton's early career...
Voice of Ron Dennis Team manager McLaren
... what was apparent was his pace and dedication.
But in the end what you are looking for an an intellect.
And I thought is, "That guy has what it takes."
In the mid-80s, McLaren were the team to beat.
Ron Dennis was the best manager Alain Prost the best driver.
Alain Prost World Champion 1985, 1986
Everyone called him "the Professor" because he
would do methodically what was needed to stay ahead on points.
If this is meant coming fifth,
he would hold a fifth place and collect those points,
rather than fighting for the third, the second or first place.
And he certainly understood the politics of the sport
and played that game smarter then anyone.
You are known as the "Professor" ...
Selina Scott Talk show Wogan, BBC
... because always plan and know exactly where you are going.
Is this actually true?
I'm just very realistic. So when im competitive,
I know I'm competitive. When I'm not I recognise I am not.
Why are there no women racing drivers?
I do not know exactly why women are not competitive
in motor racing, especially in Formula One.
But you are a beautiful woman. And I know someone at McLaren
who would like very much to arrange something for you.
Alain, if someone teaches me how to drive
car racing I leave this job e. ..
There is nothing important I can not teach.
Does your wife drive you home ?
Announcement of the McLaren drivers
We believe we have the two best drivers in the world.
Ron Dennis McLaren Team manager
And the most professional.
And we are not consistantly in the winning circle next year
we certainly won't be able to put the blame at the drivers.
It is a great opportunity for me, professionally.
And on a personal level, I feel very happy to work together with Alain.
The first year at McLaren was decisive in the life of Ayrton.
Item Viviane Senna Sister of Ayrton
He was very nervous.
It was as if he wore on his shoulders the weight of the world,
because they now had the responsibility
to demonstrate pilot who was a first-rate.
No. 1 (Grand Prix Formula One)
1988
Aryton has for the first ime in his career a car capable of being world champion
and he does not want to let his chance get away.
-This is normal and this will spur us on. -And you?
-For me it's a bit 'different.
You mean let it go?
I have a little 'more pressure on me, because of you.
Saw them smile...
Voice of Ron Dennis McLaren Team manager
...but at the same time, body language is perceived
that they realized what would happen.
Alain, of course, felt he was well nested down at McLaren,
and the young pretender coming in and threatening that position..
Both had great intellects and both were very good racing drivers.
beating each other became far more challenging
then beating the rest of the field.
MONACO GRAND PRIX 14 May 1988
1. A. SENNA - 2. A. PROST POSTING: 55.114 sec
That day, I suddenly realized I was no longer driving conscious.
and i was in a different dimension for me.
The circuit became a tunnel and I did not do anything but move forward.
Now I realize that I was way beyond my conscious understanding of things.
Ayrton was multiple seconds into the lead He had victory in hand.
67/78
Was leading a few laps from the end. When he reciveved a radio transmission,
You are so far in the lead slow down
Ayrton Senna has hit the wall.
Senna is in the barrier! It came out of the car ...
Ayrton Senna is out of the car and out of this race
Ayrton Senna goes out of the lead of the Monaco Grand Prix.
Absolutely incredible!
A. PROST WINNER MONACO GP 1988
He never wanted to beat me. He wanted to humiliate me.
Voice of Alain Prost
He wanted to prove to be stronger than me.
Better than me. That was his weakness.
His post accident emotion was pure anger with himself.
And he couldn't cope with it at all.
He actually walked back to his apartment
and it was two or three hours before he surfaced.
That weekend, I came so close to perfection that I am relaxed
and I left room for errors. It taught me a lesson..
Then,
Since then I progessively come back since I lost some confidence.
I've got much stronger, after that incident.
Somehow, I got closer to God and that has been very important for me as a man.
Monaco was the turning point in the 88 season.
Ayrton went on an amazing run,
winning six the following eight races.
putting him just ahead of Prost in the Championship.
what happens now you two?
We'll have fun. We enjoy very much..
We will fight. Maybe out of the car..
I think the Championship become even more interesting.
Is it possible to be equal in the championship?
-No there can be only one winner -Damn.
GRAND PRIX OF JAPAN 30 October 1988
As the sun rises, Brazil will await the chequered flag
and for Ayrton Senna to win his first world title in Formula One,
realising a dream he had since he was a child.
Voice of Pierre Van Vliet TF1 commentator
We are about to start. Green light.
Senna does not start!
Prost came out ahead while Ayrton Senna was left behind.
Ayrton Senna is in 14th place.
I thought, "So long title. It's over".
Voice Reginaldo Leme Commentator's Globe
He takes eighth place. An amazing comeback from Senna.
Then his favorite thing happened,
it began to rain.
Senna is now in fourth position.
Senna goes, goes, goes!
Ayrton Senna overtakes Prost and onwards!
I started giving thanks during the last lap.
I thanked God.
It was incredible. I could not believe I was going to win the championship,
Despite all the anxiety and tension.
And I felt God's presence.
I saw God
It was a very special moment for me.
An indescribable feeling.
It remains engraved in my memory and as a part of me.
Ayrton Senna of Brazil!
World Championship 1988!
Sao Paulo
What an incredible race!
A great victory. He had to come from 16th place.
AYRTON SENNA WORLD CHAMPION 1988
Ayrton, how do you feel as World Champion?
I feel so much peace.
It is as if someone had removed a huge weight
from my shoulders and head.
It is difficult to understand what it means be a World Champion.
Sao Paulo November 15, 1988
He is an amazing person, wonderful.
He is very humble and improves the image of Brazil abroad.
He shares his victory with us.
I admire him very much.
He is very brave man.
I just know this.
We are proud of him.
It is one of the few things that we can still be proud of.
Once, I asked Ayrton "When will you think about quitting?"
He said, "Mom, the day I am the champion I will stop."
In my heart, I knew that was not true.
We all know that.
Senna family home video
Senna's family and the family of Tamin Angra Creek
Viviane Senna Ayrton's Sister
After the 1988 Championship, after he won the title,
We noticed that he had changed between the beginning and the end of the year.
Because he had found himself.
He had discovered who he was.
It was a process that reached its conclusion after his championship victory.
At Christmas, many things happen.
New friends are made,
like the person I'm about to introduce.
Xuxa Meneghel Brazilian TV Star
He was part of my 1988.
Ayrton Senna.
Isn't he cute?
I have a few questions for you.
I think everyone is excited, but not more than me,
It is not easy to talk. Ayrton is now my friend.
we talk so tough.
Ayrton, what you want for Christmas?
As a Christmas present?
What I really want, I cannot say here!
Why not?
It would be censored. Let's say I just want to be happy.
Whisper it to me.
Happy New Year.
Happy 1990.
Happy '91.
Happy '92.
Happy '93.
1989
Voice of Ron Dennis McLaren Team manager
The 1989 season was somewhat less harmonious then the year before.
Both drivers took on different levels of aggression.
1 Ayrton Senna 2 Alain Prost
especially when racing each other.
Thats whwn the gloves come off within a team.
Voice of John Bisignano ESPN Commentator
Thats when engineers stopped sharing information.
thats when drivers start looking over their shoulders to see
who obtained what from whom.
And Ayrton, with his love of truth,
was not in tune as Alain Prost
in another dimension the politics of sport.
Prost and Senna, Prost and Senna,
The order of the grid is always one or the other.
It is a war between them.
For the French driver Alain Prost,
he believes his teammate is unfair to him.
and these disagreements could affect the rest of the season.
Grand Prix after Grand Prix they were more and more distant from each other.
Voice Reginaldo Leme Commentator's Globe
Ayrton said: "This Frenchman is tough.
"He wants war."
After a little more time,
they became completely isolated and they didn't speak anymore.
Jean-Marc Balestre President of the FIA
Of course I think the president FlA president Jean-Marie Balestre ...
Voice of Pierre Van Vliet Commentator TF 1
...was helpful for Alain because they were close.
I would like to give a warm welcome to the President of FISA, Mr. Balestre.
Please, gentlemen.
Japanese Grand Prix Pre-race meeting for drivers.
All the drivers in the world are looking at you in the TV
because they think, stupidly, you are an example..
It is a big mistak, but that's what they think
I repeat.
No danger for the end of the World Championship.
I say this clearly.
Now depends on you.
The Championship was neck to neck.
Voice of John Bisignano ESPN Commentator
Senna Has to win the japanese grand prix
to keep the points battle on to the last race.
Prost knows thats if Senna does not finish he will be formula 1 world champion.
GRAND PRIX OF JAPAN 22 October 1989
Camera on-board Ayrton Senna
Prost is first. Senna, second.
Prost jumped into the lead.
His start was better.
Round 45 of 53 Casino Chicane
Round 46 of 53 Casino Chicane
Here is an opportunity Senna is looking for. Going through.
Out! Oh My Goodness this is fantastic
If the race ends like this, Prost wins the title.
But, for Ayrton Senna it is a win-win situation.
Nannini passes.
Nannini is now in the lead.
Senna is still in the pits.
Senna is back on track, but he is far behind Nannini.
Catching him will be almost impossible.
It's all or nothing, five laps to go.
It will be a suicidal race for Senna, if he decides to try anything.
Then Prost saw Ayrton return to the race
Voice Reginaldo Leme Commentator's Globe
and immediately went to the stewards' office.
Nannini, first. Senna, second.
Senna tries to pass Nannini!
Senna is in the lead!
Round 51 of 53 Casino Chicane
Brazilian flags waving!
The crowd are on their feet!
Ayrton Senna.
Checkered flag!
Senna celebrates in the cockpit.
AYRTON SENNA WINNER - JAPANESE Grand Prix
He hits his helmet,
Ayrton Senna of Brazil!
Visibly moved,
He raises his visor and wipes away a tear.
It is a fantastic victory.
I have never seen anything like it.
Maybe in 20 minutes.
fuckin hell.
A cup of tea?
There was no podium celebration immediately after the race.
Reginaldo Leme Globo TV commentator
Nigel, Nigel, missed the chicane.
He used the escape route.
*Office of the marshals*
As the wait was prolonged, the more people feared that the decision was becoming political.
The decision taken by the team of FIA Commissioners
at the Grand Prix of Japan
is to exclude the number one car and its driver, Ayrton Senna,
from the final outcome of the race.
After the race, a giant screen has repeatedly shown the incident
... And everything that happened Senna trying to get back on track.
After reviewing these images, race officials have concluded
that Senna failed to use the chicane to resume racing
Senna has infringed Article 56 of the FIA regulations.
You are world champion, Alain?
Apparently, yes.
I was not 100% sure I know the regulation,
but you never know how its going to be interpreted.
To be very honest, I am quite happy to leave,
Its become absolutely impossible to work with aryton.
And thats a good end of Championship.
What I'd like to do now
is to show you some footage which I beleive is quite relevent.
because we are told you can't use escape roads to rejoin the race.
Replay GP Austria 1981
Escape roads are not for escape through they are in fact for stopping in,
they are for turning in and going out of. (laughter)
It is important to remember that there were no exclusions
or penalties or disqualifications.
And that's why he was excluded from the Grand Prix of Japan?
Where is the consistency? It can't be right.
Alain, you say that it was a normal trajectory.
But, from aerial photography,
its looked like you turned in quite early.
And it was not the normal line at all.
I won 39 Grand Prix and now three world titles.
I would think that such a thing on purpose?
I had already turned for the corner.
maybe a little earlier if you want but that was my corner.
FIA Headquarters, Paris
The Court of Appeals declares
a six-month license suspension for Senna.
A warning not only to Ayrton Senna but for all the drivers,
and a fine of $ 100. 000.
While he is one of the best drivers in the world,
you have no right to cause stupid accidents.
The way the whole affair has been treated
as if the responsibility for the event was totally mine.
I was given the blame for everything and have been penalized for everything.
I was treated like a criminal.
And this is totally unacceptable.
That was quite a profound moment for Ayrton
Viviane Senna Ayrton's Sister
because Balestre had behaved even worse than Prost.
Viviane Senna
He even thought about giving up Formula One racing.
I left him alone for a while '.
Voice of Ron Dennis Team manager McLaren
And then I gentle pursued him if you are tur to your values,
if you bleive your values are correct values,
then walking away from the dark forces
you face in life just doesn't become an option
1990
In the 1990 season he came back wiser.The team more harmonious.
Prost has gone to Ferrari
and Senna was in a perfect position to compete for the championship.
All drivers aspire towards their limits.
My limit is different from that of Prost. This is the reality.
Instead of trying to improve his own capacity,
he found it easier to attack me.
Ayrton was a small problem. He thinks that he cannot kill himself,
because he believes in God and things like this.
I think it is very dangerous for other drivers.
The fact that I believe in God, the fact that I have faith in God,
is not to say that I am immortal,
It does not mean that I am immune from danger, as has been said.
I'm afraid of hurting myself just like everyone else,
especially driving in Formula One, where the threat is constant.
Spanish Grand Prix September 30, 1990
Martin Donnelly Lotus
Is that him?
Who is it?
Martin Donnelly.
I was in the pits. Practise was stopped
I've heard several people say that there had been an accident. It was Donnelly.
That was a bad accident. Very ugly. A diaster.
So I decided to go to the place to see for myself.
A million things went thru my mind. And In the end.
I realized I was not going to give up my passion,
Even just seeing what I have seen.
And I had to put myself together.
Go to my car and do it again,
and do it even better then before,
that was the way to kind of cover the imapact it had on me.
I was not ready to give up. as much as I was afraid to continue,
I was not ready to abandon my aim, my target, my object,
It is my passion, my dream. This is my life.
Ayrton Senna 1'19"844 sec POLE POSlTlON
As far as I hear he is out of danger
which is a lot considering the accident.
And as i happened to him can happen to any of us.
There are things that you can calculate
and things that are unexpected.
and those unexpected are the most dangerous ones,
like happened to him today.
I hope we don't see those things in the future.
GRAND PRIX OF JAPAN 21 October 1990
amazing. for the third time in a row
the championship hinged on the race in japan.
but this time if Prost didn't finish Ayrton would be champion.
Gentlemen, good morning.
The number of laps from green to chequered flag will be 53.
Pre-race meeting for drivers.
Dangerous behaviour and/or dangerous manuveor
will be placed immediately under investigation
and may lead to license suspension
valid for one or more world championship events.
Any questions?
There was a big fuck up last year with Ayrton.
Nelson Piquet World Champion 1981, 1983, 1987
Why do you have to repeat the same thing?
The safest thing is,
if you miss the chicane the stewards stop you. Alright?
Then no traffic let you go.
If we have to turn around and go backwards
back towards the others cars thats dangerous.
Okay.
(Ron Dennis) Does everybody feel that way?
-Yes. -Yes.
-Thanks. -Thank you very much.
I can not stand. It's a joke.
After what happened last year, its a joke.
You have shown ... I did not say anything. Someone else raised the issue
and everyone agrees. Last year was really bad for me
I'm sorry. I'm sorry, but I can not stay.
The story down in the pitlane and on the grid is one of tension.
With the world championship up for grabs everyone is extremely tense.
Ayrton Senna actually walked out of the drivers meeting today.
He thinks that the pole position should be
on the left of the grid, not on the right.
If the inside was clean, it would sure be better.
But it is dirty. So it is better outside, in Hungary as well.
The racing line is the line on which the cars most normally drive.
Voice of John Bisignano ESPN Commentator
It is the fastest line around the track.
Its really important to have the pole position on the racing line.
If you are on the opposite side you are on a part of the track that is rarely used,
and has half the grip.
If the circuit was free, it would be better
I'esterno, not the internal
because inside there is no grip..
We will look at.
Yes, please.
But would the head steward, the FIA and Balestre agree?
Ayrton Senna will be in pole position for tomorrows Japanese Grand Prix.
Prost was second fastest.
Voice of Ron Dennis McLaren Team manager
Pole position was his.
Then, suddenly, pole position was mysteriously
moved on the dirty side of the track and he thought it unfair.
Voice of Ayrton Senna
Balestre has influenced the choice.
I know. We all know that.
I have been fucked many times by the system.
I said: "Today, no way.
"Today has to be my way.
"No matter what happens. has to be my way. "
GREEN LIGHT
Senna sprints away,
but it's Alain Prost who takes the lead
Senna is trying to go through on the inside...
And a collision.
Clashed.
Senna has been hit.
Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna had come together again
and they are both off the race track! this is unbeleivable.
If the race continues, the title will have been decided.
I wonder if we will see the red flag.
We have not yet seen.
Apparently, the race will continue.
The Championship is over.
Ayrton Senna is the world champion 1990.
Thats a very sad way for this years World Championship to finish.
Can you tell us what happened on the first lap, Ayrton?
Well unfortunately We touched the first corner,
while we were fighting for the lead, and we went off.
You thought the pole position
was on the wrong side of the track? You wanted to change that.
Of course I wanted to change it. One fights, you break your balls to get on pole.
and then you are put on the wrong side of the circuit.
How does it feel to be world champion?
Its not a bad feeling at all is it.
Congratulations.
Voice of Ron Dennis McLaren Team manager
What was very clear was when Aryton got back
his body language, his mannerisms showed he was in massive conflict.
It was certainly not proud of himself.
certainly not revelled in the fact that
this had determined World Championship.
Formula 1 world championship for drivers Ayrton Senna!
FIA AWARDS PARIS 1990
and welcoming, Ayrton Senna.
He knew that I was right with him.
He moved tow the inside line towards the first corner.
I've chased and he opened the path.
And knowing me like he does know
he must have realised if their was a gap I going to try and overtake him
Okay. Let me ask you another difficult question.
If I was to count back all the world champions...
Jackie Stewart F1 Champion 1969, 71, 73
...the number of times they had made contact with other drivers,
you, in the last 36, 48 months,
you have been in contact with more cars and drivers
that they might have done in total
I find amazing for you to make such a question Stewart,
because you are very experience and know a lot about racing.
You should know that by being a racing driver
means risking all the time.
By being a racing driver means that you compete with other people.
And if you no longer go for a gap that exists
you are no longer a racing driver,
Because we are competing, competing to win.
Our main motivation for all of us is to compete for a victory.
Do not get third, fourth, fifth or sixth.
But has it not always been like that?
It is irrelevant. Everything you're saying, Jack,
is totally irrelevant.
I won more Grand Prix than anyone else in the last three years.
I've been in pole position more than anyone else in history..
I won two world titles in the last three years.
I do not think ... I can not understand
how you can turn things around
To say that I've been in more accidents than anyone else.
Because that is not true as well
Two of the greatest champions in the history of Formula One
ended up in the sand. Championship ruined.
They accuse each other, but Prost was the hardest.
His reaction was violent.
I wanted to punch him in the face, but I was so disgusted
that I did not succeed.
It makes me sick.
Senna vs Prost, which went on for a couple of seasons,
was just absolutelty wonderful for Formula One's appeal.
The television ratings improved, everything just went up
People talked about it.
It was a controversial, shocking, fascinating.
The success of the sport also grew you know.
Commercially. Bernie Ecclestone was very clever.
In distributing the TV rights.
But, to preserve the ratings, you need personalities
and of course the Prost Senna story was a big hit.
Ayrton became famous outside the sport,
through the impact of Formula One on television.
I feel so worried for the people because ...
Sent her away.
They are nice people and it is nice to see them.
I'm really sorry.
In Brazil, it was very different.
People were unhappy under the regime that was ruling them.
Poverty was just desperate.
So his appeal at such a hard time was just extraordinary.
The situation in Brazil was very negative and depressing.
Viviane Senna Ayrton's Sister
But many times, when Ayrton won,
instead of trying to hide his Brazilian origins, as others did,
he did the opposite, waving the flag of his country.
He took it inside the car every Sunday.
He was an inspiration to people. That's why they loved him so much.
1991
Ayrton had never won the Grand Prix of Brazil.
Voice Reginaldo Leme Globo TV Commentator
Since he entered Formula One he always dreamed of winning in his home country.
Brazilian Grand Prix March 21, 1991
The Brazilian Grand Prix has begun.
Red light. Green light.
A good start.
Come on, Senna!
Senna is in command.
Lap 54 of 67
Ayrton pulled out a lead.
He was then faced with a very easy race win.
Voice of Ron Dennis McLaren Team manager
Here's Senna. It's starting to rain.
It's raining. It must stop.
But then the gearbox jammed
and he was faced wih several laps to go
only having the sixth gear.
7 LAPS REMAINING
It seems impossible to drive a Formula One car stuck in sixth gear.
Voice Reginaldo Leme Globo TV Commentator
Ayrton wanted to stop. He could no longer drive it.
But he had already tried many times to win the Brazilian Grand Prix
and found a special force within himself.
The last corner. And Senna crosses the line.
Go for the win.
Ayrton, Ayrton ... The Brazilian Ayrton Senna!
A wonderful victory for Senna!
Voice of Ayrton Senna
No way!
God damn it, I won!
"Prost, the son of a bitch"
He won, and then fainted.
Voice Reginaldo Leme Globo TV Commentator
It was his most heroic moment.
Because of the tremendous physical effort,
I had muscle spasms of my shoulder and neck.
The pain was tremendous.
The physical and mental stress this weekend was unheard of.
But could there be only one result.
I finished the race with nothing left.
What's wrong?
The shoulders, the shoulders.
Just My shoulders.
Come on, Dad. Come here.
Come here.
Do not touch me.
Quiet, Ayrton.
Do not touch me.
Need help?
Bring the flag for me.
Today, I fought hard.
I wanted to finish the race and finish in first position,
because He is the greatest
and He will give me this race after all.
That's what happened.
It is God who gave me this race and I'm happy.
It was thrilling.
All hail the Brazilian Senna for his victory. Congratulations.
I thank all of Brazil. I thank all the fans.
This weekend I felt so much warmth around me
that we could not do anything but win.
It could not have been any other way.
And we did it.
Senna family home, Sao Paulo
Life can be very difficult in Brazil. You have...
In Brazil you have all the extremes. You have the fantastic nature.
You can have all the good material things that money can buy.
But at the same time, You have lots of problems.
Social problems, poverty. some violence as a conesquence.
I try to help
Ayrton was so well known in Brazil
Viviane Senna Ayrton's Sister
there were a lot of people asking for help
for personal problems. Sometimes hospitals
and charities sought his support and donations.
Ayrton gave donations and tried to work things out.
He was wanting to do this in a more organized way.
He did not want to continue making random donations.
He wanted to develop a whole thing, something organized and structured
to help Brazil, especially the children.
Ayrton in 91 was in great form.
Voice of John Bisignano ESPN Commentator
I think it was his strongest year.
He won seven races, Constantly on pole position.
The intensity was every bit as high as ever
But there just seemed to be a furter wisdom.
A furter bit of growth.
Grand Prix of Mexico 14 June 1991
But then the car bit him hard.
For the first time, he really thought can could be hurt in a formula 1 car.
neurological examination...
Professor Sid Watkins Medical F1
...check chest, blood pressure, abdomen
and limbs.
-How do you find him? -He's fine..
-Not to worry? -No. Absolutely.
Voice of Professor Sid Watkins F1 Doctor
Its the deepest personal relationship I've had with any driver.
Every time I went on the circuit and I met Senna
usually he was giving an interview or was surrounded by many people.
As soon as he saw me, a beautiful smile lit up his face.
He had this wonderful humility,
which is not very common in racing drivers.
-Okay. -It was a pleasure.
Be careful.
You still have so much to do.
Yes, some other little thing.
Questions? Yes.
Német Nagydíj 28 July 1991
We talked about the chicane and barriers
created with the tires.
You happen to hit those tires
its very likely it will throw your car into the air
and roll on itself.
In Mexico, it happened to me
and here it can happen to other people.
I agree that we have at the moment
not the ideal solution.
Roland Bruynseraede Race Director
The President spoke yesterday with Mr. Mosley.
NNo, no, no. Forget Mr. Mosley.
It has ...
Forget it.
Okay. The FISA president ...
No, forget the president.
We discuss the issue raised by Mr. Senna,
what we intend to do today in this specific race.
We can not do anything for this race.
In my opinion, it is better to remove the tires.
Yesterday I happened to pass the braking point at the first chicane.
Let me finish. Let me finish.
I went straight. The street was blocked.
and I could not go back.
If we remove the tires, we put the cones.
Yeah, okay. In this way, the way of escape ...
Yes
No, you need to share the same point.
It should be observed travel distance.
There is no turning back.
I'm sorry, but this regulation.
It is written in the regulation. We received the letter yesterday.
Page three.
Here. The last two paragraphs.
Excellent penalty for here..
Jean-Marie, is the same thing.
No problem, Ayrton. No problem.
This is the best decision to take, Jean-Marie.
Try to understand.
The best decision is mine.
I have feeling for that.
No, you do not know what's my decision.
My decision is always the best
And my decision is
a democratic vote. Only the drivers.
Show of hands.
Who is in favor of the replacement tire with the cones?
Raise your hand.
Okay.
Who is opposed?
Abstain? Do you all agree, then.
The tires must be removed immediately and replaced with cones, right?
Three hours after
Alain, what happened at the chicane?
I tried to overtake Senna. It was ...
I was blocked throughout the race, so not very correct.
Prost I believe that everyone should know by now.
He is always complaining about the car or tires,
the team, mechanics, fuel, the other drivers of the circuit.
The fault is always of others, never his.
Yes, no problem.
So I have nothing to lose. I can not win the championship,
but if he should ever do again I'll send him off the track.
Prost was sacked by Ferrari because he had criticized the car.
Voice of Richard Williams Sports journalist, The Guardian
He could not do anything but take a year off,
telling everyone he was on sabbatical.
JAPÁN 1991 October 19
If I finish in second place, The championship will be over.
If Mansell does not win,
even then, almost surely, The championship will be over.
Lap 9 of 53
Mansell tries to overtake, but he goes straight on.
Mansell goes straight on!
The Championship is over. Mansell cannot get out of the gravel trap.
Ayrton Senna Three time World Champion
Ayrton Senna of Brazil, Formula One World champion!
A lifetime dedicated to this moment
by a genius of international sport.
Three-time world champion and many other titles ahead of him.
And only 31 years of age.
Thirty three wins, three world titles.
Breaking record after record. He celebrates as only Senna can do.
The third world title puts Senna among the greatest of all time.
It is very special for me.
Thank you so much.
Sao Paulo, Brazil November 5, 1991
I kissed the hands of Senna, the left hand of Senna, three-times world champion.
I want to see Senna. I want to hug him and kiss him.
I have got a box with photos and newspaper articles.
Everything you can imagine.
He is the only good thing in Brazil, right?
After the third world title I saw another Senna.
He was very satisfied and confident. He knew the sport better then ever.
He had seen with his own eyes the good and the bad
and continued to love it as much as any other driver in the paddock.
It is a wonderful party.
Anything goes. What matters is happiness.
Have you spoken about Formula One today?
Formula One is too rigid. Today is Carnival.
Have any of your girls ever told you: "Faster, Ayrton?"
Yes.
Ayrton achieving the third world title
was the culmination of a script he had written for himself
well before entering Formula One,
because he knew he could do it and could do even more.
The great idol of sport in Brazil.
With the third title, he became the world's great sporting idol.
There is a great desire to continue improving.
Do more. That makes me happy.
Anytime I feel that I am slowing down,
that my learning curve flattens,
I'm not happy.
And that not only applies a professional, as a driver. It also applies as a man.
Of course,
I have a lot more to learn as a man that as a racing driver,
because my career as a driver may only last a few years.
I hope that my life, however, lasts very long.
Maybe I'm only half- of my life right now.
So I still have much to learn and do in life.
happiness will come when I feel complete as a whole
something that does not prove at present.
But I still have so much time in front of me to fulfill that too.
1992
The following year, The competition was distorted
by the technical innovations of the Williams cars.
The car is balanced on its own. Each corner was controlled by computer.
The driver did not have to do anything but put his foot down and go as fast as possible.
Vehicles without this system were at serious disadvantage.
McLaren still fails to keep pace with the Williams-Renault
with the result that the three times world champion Ayrton Senna
can not hope to retain the title.
When you enter into this sort
technology war
you can end up completely stuck.
This is the all that matters.
Anyone driving the car...
NlGEL MANSELL WORLD CHAMPION 1992
...its the computer that does everything, not the driver.
I do not think it would be desirable
for a World Championship
oh drivers.
The negotiations were lengthy
and we still do not know who will be Prost's teammate.
The three-time world champion has signed
a two-year contract with Williams
and during the week will begin testing the car.
I asked only one thing in the contract:
I do not want to be a teammate with Aryton
Voice of Alain Prost
I explicitly requested.
And they immediately accepted,
saying that it was not their intention.
This was my only request in the contract,
because I wanted to win the Championship
and do not miss this opportunity.
It is no secret
I tried hard to achieve
an agreement with Williams.
It is a very complex situation.
Its ...
Its not nice. Its not clear.
I'm pretty sure of one thing:
I'm the one that has more to lose.
Because I'm at an age near the peak of my career
and the number of years in the career of a Formula One driver is limited.
So if I stop, I'd lose out more than anyone else,
both professionally and personally.
Adriane Galisteu
1993
In 1993, Ayrton drove his car so brilliantly.
For me, it was his best season.
Brazilian Grand Prix 1993
European Grand Prix 1993
He did ackomplish some of his greatest drives.
Monaco Grand Prix 1993
even though he spent most of the time looking at the back of a Williams car,
which was much faster than his.
French racing driver Alain Prost
Has won the World Drivers Championship Formula One for the fourth time ...
Prost won the championship and duely retired,
Thus getting out of the way
It seems almost that you wanted to say goodbye to McLaren.
Do you think it was your last year at McLaren?
I think so. It think it will be my Last.
Australian Grand Prix 1993
We try to do both our best.
Sure.
Let us behind what has happened.
Definitely.
Well.
Even if I had not said so, this was my goal.
Yeah, okay.
Even if we had not spoken,
I would not have changed ... I tried to do my best as always.
Voice of Mark Fogarty Journalist F1
what did he say Ron Dennis say to you when you come down from the car?
It's never too late to change your mind.
However, he said he is happy for me e. ..
It's funny. He said the same thing to me.
Thats Ron.
I said we had to keep the memory in the good times spent together
and finish it well.
It was the last race Senna raced for McLaren
Prost's last race for Williams.
Although no one knew it yet,
was the last time either of them were on the podium.
AYRTON SENNA WINNER GP AUSTRALIA
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna.
Announcement of the Williams drivers 1994
Ayrton is perhaps the best driver, the best driver currently racing.
The team has what it takes to succeed
and this is what our partners, investors and sponsors expect from us.
Consequently, Ayrton is the best equipment, so to speak,
And hopefully we can produce the car to meet these expectations.
The lnternational Federation Sport Automotive
Has banned the controvesal computer devices
that help drivers in Formula One races
This is to stem the uncontested domination of the richest teams,
1994
...like the Williams-Renault World title holders.
For Ayrton Senna, it is a race against time.
He has to attune himself to be an integral part of the team and adapt to the new car.
He says he is not yet comfortable.
The car no longer has the electronic components used last year.
He is without traction control, special brakes and active suspension.
The cars are much less stable
without the electronically controlled suspension.
As a result, they are more difficult to drive
and it is very likely that more cars will leave the track.
So we might see more cars crashing, giving more excitement to the audience.
Also for us, as long as nothing happens to the drivers.
Otherwise, it is not a good situation.
Senna in second place.
Brazilian Grand Prix 27 March 1994
Almost eight seconds between them now.
Lap 56 of 71
Undoubtedly, we are not satisfied...
Patrick Head Chief Engineer Williams
...how things are going at the moment with the car.
The handling isn't particularly good.
Pacific Grand Prix 17 April 1994
The cars were suppose to have any of the electronic aids
they had installed the previous year.
But Senna was convinced
the Benetton driven by Michael Schumacher
MlCHAEL SCHUMACHER BENNETTON FORD - WINNER
winner of the first two races of the season, had retained some of those...
Flavio Briatore Benetton team manager
...in particular, traction control, which eliminated wheelspin.
It didn't stack up that he was being blown away by the Benetton
He wanted us to protest...
Voice of Frank Williams Team manager Williams
...but we did not.
SAN MARINO GRAND PRIX, IMOLA APRIL 1994
Senna
Start from zero. We are here starting from zero so basically our championship starts here.
Its not a comfortable position to be in But thats the reality.
You've already won three times here in the past. And you really have to make it four.
I would love too.
Friday 29 April 1994
Senna was so nervous that weekend. I had never seen him so tense.
Reginaldo Leme Globo TV Commentator
I never saw him smile, even for a moment.
He maintained a bemused, bored, even a sad demeanor.
It is the balance.
It is unstable.
The car has worsened.
There is a predominant tendency
or the balance is constantly changing?
It tends to understeer more.
In the first round, tended to understeer.
Then, in the second, has changed abruptly.
Oversteer and understeer?
Yes
Instead of mid-corner,
has lost grip at the beginning.
When it is normal to lose grip loses too much.
Rubens Barrichello Jordan
Do you know Ayrton or should I introduce you?
We met four years earlier. I already met him.
Knew him by name, or in person?
I know him because I follow Formula One and then we met in person.
Why are you so nervous, then?
When we stand next to a person like him we always become emotional.
Good luck to the champion and the future champion.
RUBENS BARRICHELLO QUALIFYING
Damn.
REPLAY
Rubens did you see?
He's fine. He's fine. It is shock, obviously, but he is fine.
Did you talk?
Yes
Get well, Rubens.
Saturday 30 April 1994
Ayrton did not feel at ease with the new team...
Voice of John Bisignano ESPN Commentator
...nor with the car.
But he struggled and managed to win pole position.
Damn.
I must regain control of myself.
Roland Ratzenberger Pilot Simtek
I do things with the car that no one ...
Push too hard?
Roland Ratzenberger Simtek
320 km/h?
Ladies and gentlemen, the organizers of the Grand Prix of San Marino...
Newsroom Imola
...have recived a report from the Hospital Maggiore di Bologna
that the driver of car 32, MTV Simtek Ford, Roland Ratzenberger
succumed to injuries as a result of trauma in the incident
which took place at Imola
during the qualifying Saturday 30 April.
It was the first time that our generation was faced with the death of a driver.
Voice of Pierre Van Vliet Commentator TF 1
That afternoon, the atmosphere was very heavy.
Everyone thought: "But what are we doing here?"
whats the point?"
Voice of Professor Sid Watkins Medical F1
Ayrton was very upset and cried.
So I said:
"You know, Ayrton, you've already won three world titles.
"You're the fastest man in the world."
I knew he loved fishing. "Why do not you retire?
"I'll quit too 'I and we go together to fish. "
He said, 'Sid, I can't quit. "
Item Reginaldo Leme Commentator Globe
That Saturday, at dinner, Frank Williams was not at all sure
that Senna would be present on the grid.
I was sure that he did not want to compete.
Sunday May 1 1994
That morning when I awoke,
God asked me to speak to him.
Viviane Senna Ayrton's Sister
He opened the Bible and read a passage that said
God would give him the greatest gift of all,
that of God himself.
A collision.
Everyone swerves around. Look.
REPLAY
Lamy arrives at full speed.
Lehto is stopped.
JJ LEHTO BENETTON
A nasty collision. Lamy and Lehto have had no luck.
PEDRO LAMY LOTUS
The safety car goes on track.
SAFETY CAR
Lights out on the safety car.
It means that the safety car is about to come into the pits.
Starting again. Senna is in the lead.
Schumacher is second.
On the sixth lap, Michael Schumacher is trying to put pressure on Senna.
IN CAR CAMERA AYRTON SENNA LAP 6 OF 58
Bad impact for Senna.
At the Tamburello curve.
A very serious accident.
We got him out of the cockpit,
Got his helmet off and got an airway into him.
Voice of Prof. Sid Watkins Medical F1
And I saw from his neurological signs
that it was going to be a fatal head injury.
And then he sighed, and his body relaxed.
It was at that moment ... I am not religious,
but at that moment I thought that his spirit had departed.
Even at racing speed, the Tamburello corner is not a
corner you make a mistake on.
The car must have had a problem.
Maybe it was broken power steering.
Maybe the temperature of the tires was not optimal
and the car skidded off the road.
Will always remain a mystery.
There was a lawsuit?
In my opinion, the steering column broke
and the car became uncontrollable.
But above all, it was inevitable
because the car crashed at such an angle.
That the suspension arm went into his helmet.
Ayrton ran out of luck.
He did not have a broken bone in his body.
If that piece of assembly,
had gone 6 inches higher or 6 inches lower,
He would have walked back to the paddock.
Bologna, Italy
Sao Paulo, Brazil May 4 1994
He was my idol. He represented the best of Brazil.
I miss you, Senna.
I will never forget you.
Brazilians need food, education, health
and a little joy.
The joy has been removed.
Nothing can separate me from the love of God.
Who is or has been
the driver you've competed against with greatest satisfaction?
Both past and present.
I would have to go back
to 1978. 1979
and 1980, when I was in karting.
I came to Europe for the first time to compete outside Brazil,,
as a teammate for Fullerton.
His name Fullerton. He was very experienced.
I really enjoyed driving with him
because it was fast and consistent.
He was for me a very complete driver.
And it was pure driving pure racing.
There was no politics.
And no money involved either.
It was real competition.
I have that as a very good memory.
Ayrton Senna died at the age 34.
As a result of his death,
the FIA appointed Professor Sid Watkins
to improve safety in Formula One.
No fatalities have occurred in Formula One since that day.
The Ayrton Senna Foundation, founded in 1995 by his sister Viviane,
has helped to educate more than 12 million needy children in Brazil.
Alain Prost is a member of the advisory board of the foundation.