Nice Senna tribute on Top Gear

Edited by Dan333SP, 26 July 2010 - 05:04.

Yeah I watched it, complete suprise when I saw it and all sorts of memories came flooding back - and anger at how our sport now is knowhere near as good as it used to be. The footage was amazing, I do pine for those days, I recomend anyone to watch it on iplayer.

Well put, but you're just pining for the late 80s, many of us on here are pining for the late 70s or even late 60s or earlier. The steady decline of F1, of racing in general in fact is a continuing process that saddens a great many of us, many of whom like me aren't even pensioners yet. Pass me my Werther's Originals please.

What do you mean?? 'Top Gear' is ALWAYS quality television...

Well put, but you're just pining for the late 80s, many of us on here are pining for the late 70s or even late 60s or earlier. The steady decline of F1, of racing in general in fact is a continuing process that saddens a great many of us, many of whom like me aren't even pensioners yet. Pass me my Werther's Originals please.

We've had this sort of discussion many times, all I can say is enjoy what you see today - it might look much better in 20 years (I predict that F1 is still in decline in 2030!). I have seen two Hockenheim F1 races in 1977 and 1978 and they were boring - compared to that yesterdays race was more entertaining.

Edited by Formula Once, 26 July 2010 - 08:35.

We've had this sort of discussion many times, all I can say is enjoy what you see today - it might look much better in 20 years (I predict that F1 is still in decline in 2030!). I have seen two Hockenheim F1 races in 1977 and 1978 and they were boring - compared to that yesterdays race was more entertaining.

For those who are interested and may have missed it last night (as I did), Top Gear is repeated tonight at 7.0pm on BBC2 in the UK. The Senna tribute was the last feature, probably around 10/15 mionutes-worth. From the snippet I caught it looked extremely well done, with Clarkson showing that he can, occasionally, produce quality television.

From another Topic in Racing Comments.

Clarkson mentioned a Senna film that is going to be coming out in the next year or so and advised us to watch it, I haven't heard of a film - has anyone got any details? the way Clarkson spoke it was as if he had seen a preview - anyone know if it is even at this stage?

http://www.jamesalle...ns-this-autumn/

Can't let you get away with that Frank, leaving aside that breathtakingly skillful pass that Alonso pulled on Massa, he's certainly worth every penny that Ferrari pay him, apart from that, there was hardly a single worthwhile passing manoeuvre in the entire race, apart from the controversy, what did you find "entertaining"?

Brilliant thanks, sounds good - though I wonder, if it is approved by his family, will it gloss over his flaws? which in my mind make him more interesting and human. Will there be footage of Japan 1990...

Mind you, in ten, fifteen years time we will probably all hail what is happening today anyway...

Mind you, in ten, fifteen years time we will probably all hail what is happening today anyway...

And I suppose you expect that in ten or fifteen years, we will also look back at today's cars and call them beautiful...????

And I suppose you expect that in ten or fifteen years, we will also look back at today's cars and call them beautiful...????

The lap at Donington, so very special, the 1st Top Gear that I have watched for ages.

Edited by ryan86, 26 July 2010 - 22:21.

It actually gave me an interesting thought. Andretti was at least 6th, got by Schumacher, caught up with Wendlinger in a corner or two and then they collided, but it made me wonder what would have had happened he got cleanly by Wendlinger, that perhaps the McLaren was just impeccably set up for those conditions.

Edited by Jack-the-Lad, 27 July 2010 - 00:24.

Good also to see some of the more recent drivers (inc MSC) putting Senna as No:1

I love TG. It's lack of political correctness is fresh air for us Yanks. Wish we got the full length programs, though....

It actually gave me an interesting thought. Andretti was at least 6th, got by Schumacher, caught up with Wendlinger in a corner or two and then they collided, but it made me wonder what would have had happened he got cleanly by Wendlinger, that perhaps the McLaren was just impeccably set up for those conditions.

Interesting thought, though I watched Andretti with interest that season and it seemed his biggest problem was not with getting to grips with the technology which is often sited but the fact that he didn't seem to be able to do the basics such as get by anyone cleanly let alone Wendlinger! As an interesting what if - Wendlinger himself was doing a good job, wonder where he could have finished if Andretti had not taken him out?

Well, it was the other way round, wasn't it? Andretti was on the inside, and though Wendlinger was still ahead by a nose, he failed to give the McLaren any room. In my opinion, Andretti's problem was pretty much down to not being a known force in F1, and not being used to "earn his overtaking spurs" - he was well known as a charger in the US, but not in F1. On that day, he followed Senna's path almost move by move, but whereas Senna had "paid his dues" in the form of many accidents in his formative years, to the point that most drivers almost instinctively gave him the room he needed, Andretti had no such stature yet - in F1, that is!

Regarding Donnington, didn't Senna dismiss the victory as being down to his traction control - there is a quote from him knocking about regarding this.

Yeah I was going to post this after reading the Andretti post further up - if I remember rightly he basically said that Portugal '85 was a far more impressive performance to him personally than Donington '93.

Yeah I was going to post this after reading the Andretti post further up - if I remember rightly he basically said that Portugal '85 was a far more impressive performance to him personally than Donington '93.

In my opinion, Andretti's problem was pretty much down to not being a known force in F1, and not being used to "earn his overtaking spurs" - he was well known as a charger in the US, but not in F1. On that day, he followed Senna's path almost move by move, but whereas Senna had "paid his dues" in the form of many accidents in his formative years, to the point that most drivers almost instinctively gave him the room he needed, Andretti had no such stature yet - in F1, that is!

And it was.

I agree.
Donington '93 had only about 10 or so cars that were fitted with traction control, Jerez 85 there weren none so in that respect the field was much more equal. (Because of the equality of cars at Barcelon '96 I rate MS first victory ever for Ferrari higher then Senna's '93 Donington victory)
Besides that, Jerez '85, the turbo years, with the slight dileay in throttle response and turbo power rushing in in spades.... On a soaked track, phew....
As negative as I have been about Senna over the years, Monaco '84 and Jerez '85 are the two races that for me showed the very best there was inside him.
I turn off Donington, but I take a seat for watching Jerez '85 another time.
Henri

Edited by mfd, 28 July 2010 - 12:48.