“Every era has someone who changes the sport and he was one of those people.”
The phrases of Damon Hill when remembering Ayrton Senna, the charismatic and iconic Brazilian driver whose expertise behind the wheel of a racing automobile ensured he transcended the game during which he made his title.
Could 1 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the triple world champion’s loss of life on the San Marino Grand Prix.
Imola 1994 was a darkish and traumatic weekend for System 1.
Roland Ratzenberger, the Austrian Simtek driver, was killed in an accident in Saturday qualifying.
Senna then misplaced his life in a crash throughout the next day’s race.
Thirty years have handed, but Senna and his profession story stay as inspirational and illuminating as they ever have. So what was it a couple of good but intense racing driver from Sao Paulo that so captivated the world?
Sky Sports activities F1’s Damon Hill, who was Senna’s team-mate on that fateful Imola weekend, offers an illuminating first-hand perception into the Brazilian beneath.
‘Individuals have been fascinated by him’
Damon Hill, Williams team-mate:
“Every era has someone who changes the sport and I think he was one of those people. He changed the sport, he changed the approach. He was far more aggressive and far more committed, to the point of almost craziness. But he had such self-belief, and I think that inspired people – I think they were fascinated by him.
Damon Hill was Senna’s closing team-mate
“I think he was a bit of a shock to the system when he arrived in Formula 1 because he was audacious. I think that’s why everyone wanted to have him in their team, because they knew that this was the guy who would give everything he absolutely had to get the very last drops out of that car.
“Typically it went incorrect, generally he went too far – however followers liked him and he was a large, large image of hope and success to Brazilians, and other people world wide.
“He had an air of uniqueness about him and he was also not messing about, he was a very serious person. He wasn’t here to have fun, he was clearly here to do business. So he was quite intimidating from that point of view. But whatever attitude he had off the track, it was backed up by his results on the track. It wasn’t like he was putting on airs or graces, he was the real deal.”
Ratzenberger, Senna to be remembered in Imola
Whereas the thirtieth anniversary of their deaths falls on the week of the Miami Grand Prix, poignant tributes are set to be paid to each drivers in Imola.
The Municipality of Imola, together with the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, is internet hosting a day of remembrance, with F1 followers invited to attend at no cost.
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Roland Ratzenberger’s group mate at Simtek, David Brabham, his group boss Nick Wirth and his race engineer Humphrey Corbett pay tribute the racing driver
The celebrations of the drivers’ lives will embrace a stroll of the monitor, moments of silence and the sharing of excerpts from movies and books which were created about them.
The day is a part of a three-month celebration of Senna’s legacy, with an exhibition having been on present on the San Domenico museum since March 21.
Talking when plans to have fun Senna’s legacy have been launched in March, F1 president Stefano Domenicali mentioned: “We have experienced difficult moments, but we must try to remember the aspects that make us look to the future. We know that many things have changed in the sport since that tragic situation.”
Additional tributes might be paid when System 1 returns to Imola in two weeks’ time for the 2024 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.
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Sky Sports activities’ Craig Slater is at Alpine’s headquarters as they pay respects to Ted Toleman and Ayrton Senna and speaks to Pierre Gasly who reveals what it was wish to take a drive in Senna’s System 1 automobile
Remembering Senna on Sky Sports activities
Sky Sports activities F1 is re-airing a number of particular options about Senna, which can run on the channel from Wednesday in tribute to the Brazilian nice:
Legends of F1: Ayrton Senna
Steve Rider pays tribute to the life and profession of System 1 nice Ayrton Senna. With contributions from Ron Dennis, Alain Prost and Gerhard Berger.
Wednesday: 2pm & 6pm
Senna… with Murray Walker
F1 legend Murray Walker plus main journalists Maurice Hamilton and David Tremayne be part of Simon Lazenby to look again over the Brazilian’s legendary profession.
Wednesday: 3pm & 7pm
A Successful Partnership
Former McLaren boss Ron Dennis appears to be like again at his vastly profitable partnership with Ayrton Senna. The Brazilian gained all three of his world titles with the British group.
Wednesday: 4pm & 10pm
The Final Crew-Mate
Damon Hill and David Brabham, Senna and Ratzenberger’s respective team-mates for 1994, return to Imola to relive F1’s fateful weekend.
Wednesday: 5pm, 8pm & 11pm
Race to Perfection: Imola 1994
F1 has seen spectacular highs and devastating lows. This episode remembers the drivers who fought again from adversity – and those that misplaced their lives doing so.
Wednesday: 9pm
Reminiscences of Senna
Martin Brundle, Dennis Rushen, Damon Hill and Bruno Senna recall their favorite reminiscences of three-time world champion Ayrton Senna, recorded 20 years on from his tragic loss of life.
Wednesday: 9.30pm
Remembering Ratzenberger
A glance again on the life and profession of Roland Ratzenberger on the thirtieth anniversary of his loss of life. The Austrian debutant misplaced his life throughout qualifying for the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
Thursday: 12am
Prost on Senna
Alain Prost, Senna’s most well-known rival and former team-mate, speaks candidly about his relationship with the Brazilian.
Thursday: 12.30am
Watch this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix dwell on Sky Sports activities F1 this weekend, beginning with first follow on Friday at 5.30pm.
