57 replies to this topic

[pRy]

7 years seems like only yesterday.
Please add your thoughts to this thread.

[Andy]

Many great events which became memories way too soon...

[magic]

7 years later still the most admired f1driver today.

Speaking about triple world champion Ayrton Senna, Johnny says that the Brazilian was always one of his heroes, and admits to still thinking about him.
"His (Senna's) determination to become World Champion was quite different to anyone else's," muses Johnny.
"I admired the way he was the ultimate qualifier as well as the ultimate race driver – he was one of the most complete drivers I've ever known.
"When he died it was like someone was taken from you, from your immediate family. It was a total shock to the system. I still think about him and still miss him. He was a great guy."


Rubens Barrichello has dedicated his debut win to his friend and countryman Ayrton Senna.
“This win has been a long time coming. I dedicate it to Ayrton Senna who helped me so much in my life since 1984. I don’t want to think about the championship, I just want to celebrate this win.”


McLaren star Mika Hakkinen says that racing alongside Ayrton Senna taught him what it takes to be a world champion.
"I learned a lot from Ayrton," Mika told F1 Racing.
"I used to watch Ayrton so closely. I would try to understand what he was doing. I would try to look at him all the time. Ayrton's dedication to racing was incredible, and that was the thing that gave him the ability to do what he did."
"He was a real professional. So working with him, or watching him, gave me a great understanding of racing, of F1; and of working with the McLaren team."

2000 World Champion Michael Schumacher reveals that he grew up idolising Ayrton Senna.
The Ferrari star admits that he finally realised his dream this season, and reveals that as a child, he would watch Senna race, hoping to one day be just like the Brazilian.
“There are certain dreams that you can achieve, and here my dream has come true,” Schumacher said on last night’s BBC ‘Sports Personality of the Year’ programme.
As well as winning his third title, Schumacher equalled Senna’s number of victories this season; something which the German says means a lot.
the German driver says that no matter what he achieves, he will never be as great as Ayrton Senna.

Brazilian Senna won a record six times at the monaco circuit, and Schumacher says that nobody will ever dethrone him as the ‘King of Monte Carlo’.

“He (Senna) was my idol,” Michael commented. “I was ten years old and I saw him racing karts, and I though ‘Who’s that guy?’, being so fast, driving in the way that he did, overtaking in the way he did. I felt when I was ten, ‘He’s something special’.

"Senna is the king" Schumacher said.
"I don't think I ever will be. It's not a challenge I'm aiming for, you can't compare the two of us. You never know what he would have done in the future."

[Mosquito]

People are still discussing the fact if he was the greatest ever or not. I couldn't care less if he was or not, he was my greatest hero and idol in F1 ever. Schumacher comes close as a driver and in determination, but Senna had something divine and boyish at the same time.
He was far from being mr Perfect, but at the same time he was very aware of the social and human problems of the world and in his own country.

There's a excellent documentary about Senna (mainly about his personal life where we see him swimming, sporting and generally enjoying himself with expesive toys, etc) which I can't recall what it was called, but that already made a huge impact on me during his life.

Next to that, something that most people would probably never have noticed or remembered, I do still remember him starring in a TAG Heuer commercial which was run quite some times on Eurosport at that time where he just was being filmed thinking / concentrating.
I would appreciate it very much if someone could help me trace that peticular piece of commercial. (Yes, you can call me weird).

Senna will always be a hero to me, and he's the first driver who really made me cry like a child after he died. I never realized how much he did to me emotionally untill that fatal moment...

[Ross Stonefeld]

Dying in a race car is the best career move a driver can ever make

[The Voice of Reason]

I think he was the best of all time. I just know he was the fastest. We can only imagine how many wins and championships he might have taken if that piece of suspension had gone in a slightly different direction. I can't see what could have stopped him winning in 95, 96, 97 (6 championships ) Maybe he could have won in 94 as well - considering where Hill finished.

He would have won more races than Prost as well and just imagine his final tally of poles...

F1 has never been the same.

[magic]

ms on senna;

"if Senna had not died the 94 championship would finish in the half of the year".

and...

'..Senna was the greatest ever' - Schumacher

German pays tribute as he approaches wins total

Michael Schumacher has hailed Ayrton Senna as the greatest driver of all time as the former zeros in on the legendary Brazilian's winning record at this weekend's French Grand Prix.
If he triumphs on Sunday in Magny Cours the Ferrari ace will match Senna's tally of 41 wins - the second-highest in history.
...
But as history beckoned the German played down his own achievements alongside those of the extravagantly talented Senna who died at the peak of his powers when he crashed while leading Schumacher in the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994.
"Senna is the greatest," said Schumacher.
"You cannot compare us because we are drivers from different eras, he and I."
"No-one can know how much more he would have achieved in his career if he had carried on racing."

[magic]

bernie on senna;

q: "you have witnessed almost all great drivers live.
who for you is the fastest f1 driver ever?"
bernie: "senna."

q: "who was the most talented driver ever?"
bernie: "senna."

q: "gilles, senna and ms in one race - who'd win?"
bernie: "i'd put my money on senna.
he was a class of his own.
senna was able to drive on the thin line between the limit and danger."

[JayWay]

Theres Ross again, trying to be the drama queen

[magic]

atlas on senna;

http://www.atlasf1.c...&threadid=18766

[Ross Stonefeld]

its a fair and valid point. Drivers who die in the car are less criticised and/or overrated

[JayWay]

Thats not the point of the thread. You know that to.

[Dimo]

Originally posted by JayWay
Theres Ross again, trying to be the drama queen

Fair enough, but you must admit he has a point.

It's like seeing a woman in sparse clothing. You fill in all the unknowns with your own idea of what is ideal. The real thing can only be close to, but fall short of, the dream.

No disrespect meant here, but it is much easier to dream of what could have been rather than live with what is.

[magic]

senna on senna;

"Monte Carlo ‘88, the last qualifying session. I was already on pole and I was going faster and faster. One lap after the other, quicker and quicker and quicker. I was at one stage just on pole, then by half a second and then one second and I just kept going. Suddenly I was nearly two seconds faster than anybody else, including my team mate with the same car. And suddenly I realized that I was no longer driving the car consciously. I was driving it by a kind of instinct, only I was in a different dimension. It was like I was in a tunnel. Not only the tunnel under the hotel but the whole circuit was a tunnel. I was just going and going, more and more and more and more. I was way over the limit but still able to find even more.

"Then suddenly something just kicked me. I kind of woke up and realized that I was in a different atmosphere than you normally are. My immediate reaction was to back off, slow down. I drove back slowly to the pits and I didn’t want to go out any more that day. It frightened me because I was well beyond my conscious understanding. It happens rarely but I keep these experiences very much alive inside me because it is something that is important for self-preservation."

-Ayrton Senna

----------

65 poles.
no dreaming.

[Akira]

The thing is that maybe we don't what to see perfect driver. Perfect in qualifing, perfect in race, and perfect inside the team and development. We want to se humanbeing who's determination and skill sometimes lifts the performance to being perfect and at the same time we see vurnerabilities in him as every human has some of them. And this is the reason why I have a deep respect for Senna.

[arcwulf7]

Nuvolari, Clark, Fangio, Senna -- well I could name others past or presesnt -- the greatest, completely academic, but I've seen some of the work and comments Senna made off the track before his death -- and I know he is Great Champion. Some champions don't die on the track, but all had a bit of transcendence, the ability to make luck work their way (it's amazing how lucky you get when you're good), and the ability to make others believe in a cause. So skoll, Senna, you'll always be in our hearts.

[selena]

I agree with Michael on his comments on Senna. Yes, it seems like Senna's death was only yesterday and not seven years ago. I followed his career from 1987 onwards and I could see that he was someone special. There will never be another F1 driver like him. In my opinion, he is the greatest F1 driver of all time. I stopped following F1 the day he died and only resumed following the sport in 1999.

[Oachkatzlschwoaf]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
Dying in a race car is the best career move a driver can ever make

that's quite cynical, specially for a thread like this

[Oachkatzlschwoaf]

it was an unbelievable weekend seven years ago...unbelievable bad

rest in peace ayrton

[scokim]

One comment from Senna about being a F1 driver ....

"...you live in the dreams of so many people and that is something very special."

[grmpreefan]

An amazing 7 years has passed since that horrible day when I felt the tremendous loss of Ayrton Senna. Not only the best driver in my opinion but also a tremendous personality and I will always remember him for that above all else. His career had questionable moments but no one can ever doubt he was the fastest and also arguably the best of his era and quite likely the most outstanding talent ever in Formula one. Who knows what he would have achieved in subsequent years if he hadnt have died but looking at the Williams form guide another championship or two were very likely. He was a legend before he passed and will remain so forever as the people who respected him when he was alive will never let his memory be forgotten. I am one of those people. I will never forget him and his achievements as they will stand the test of time.

As for a certain Ross somebody, you have no respect for the dead. What a stupid comment you made, no doubt just to stir Senna supporters up. Could you be more insensitive on this special day if you tried?

[Wolf]

Ross, a tad too cynical for the occasion; since everybody believes Senna was the right foot of God. I remember him mostly for being the first S in SS twins. I belive he was the first man that (and one who through his glorification) justifies all Adelaides and Jerezes that were still to come. The one who pushed the envelope of the fair-play and allowable, unfortunatelly the wrong way.

Nevertheless, it was indeed a sad day for the sport; and a tragic loss.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Wolf I acknowledge and accept (but really dont care) that it comes off somewhat bitter, but one of the unfortunate side affects of his death, and that of any driver's; is that its near impossible to have intelligent debates about their ability. Either on their own or compared to another driver, because of the 'romance' associated with a driver dying behind the wheel.

[Wolf]

Ross- You didn't read into my post that I said You were wrong, did You?

For example, take Nuvolari's biographies (abridged ir unabriged, makes no difference). How many of them state that he wanted to die in a race car, but a low-blow of fate, he died in a bed?

[markzed]

I don't want to appear ghoulish, but is there footage of Senna's accident available? I saw the incident once on the news but haven't had an opportunity to analyse what happened.

[sek]

Hail to the greatest F1 driver ever.

No one will ever be as good as him.

[Nikolas Garth]

AYRTON SENNA - ONE OF THE GREATEST, IF NOT THE GREATEST.

[Pikachu Racing]

It seems like yesterday Senna died. I miss the guy driving. He was my favorite F1 driver when I started watching. He was a great driver like many others in the decades idolize and an ICON. Sadly he died before he called it quits on a black weekend at Imola.

Where was I when he died. I was still in bed sleeping because F1 starts early and it's on a Sunday that I rather catch the tape delay. I didn't find out about his death until watching the NASCAR Talledega race when ESPN daily scoreboard announced he died. I first didn't buy his death because how can a driver like him die. Minutes later, Bob Jenkins confirmed Senna died and that when it hit me. So devestated about the news. It was Dale Earnhardt dedicating his win to Senna made me happy. Still seven years later I miss him.

The only time I felt the way Senna died when Earnhardt died. Couldn't believe his death until it finally sinks minutes later. Both drivers weren't not only great, they were heroes, ICONS and gods to the fans like me. It took a while to find out like all everyone else in the world: they are all human. Tough reality in life.

RIP Ayrton Senna and Dale Earnhardt. Both are and will always be on P1, always.

[alain]

RIP Ayrton.I miss you very much.You were the greatest

[green-blood]

I wondered today when I opened my diary what Ayrton would have made of the cowardly reintroduction of Traction control and all the other "driver aids" - aka cheats - that he campaigned aginst in 92 and 93.

7 long years. RIP

[SennaVsProst]

I can still remember exactly my emotions when it was confirmed he died... I ran upstairs and cried beneath my poster of him and the MP4/5B... i still have that poster, and today I will shed a tear again, to the one person who inspired me to what I am today, someone so entirely enthralled and emersed in motorsports, it dominates my entire life... racing, engineering.... thanks Senna, you'll be missed forever.
dave.

[bukusuma]

Hard to believe it was 7 years ago... I still miss him...

Bram

[f1racer]

God, I CAN'T get that image out of my head of the young boy in the street at the funeral looking around in utter disbelief and crying...

It's in one of the whitestar video's about Senna, I forget which one, because I watched it just once and gave it away. I can't watch it again.

But it's like seared onto my psyche and whenever this day comes now I think of that boy. And I think of Brazil.

ahem...

[JuanF1]

A tragic weekend which didn't finish there, I will never forget neither Friday, Saturday, the start or the Alboreto's pit stop.

[Beej]

I will always remember 1st May 1994 like it was yesterday. It was one of the few times I watch F1 on my own (for years now a bunch of us have got together to watch GPs having a beer). The feelings of loss and unbelief was so great. I felt at that point that F1 would never be the same. I was right.

RIP Ayrton Senna de Silva
1960 - 1994

Miss you so much

[wyhphil]

6 years ago 2day we lost the greatest driver ever. Just want to express my sorrow and I still remember the 93 European GP at Donington, driving in the wet. He was the best of the best, with or without TC, beating every1 fair and square, MS included. It was 1 of the greatest drive I've ever seen and I would remember it forever. Senna forever.
Ayrton Senna:" Racing, is in my blood, it's part of me it's part of my life."

[andy_bee]

I think its 7 years, and if you have a look further down the page, there is already a thread with lots of memories and discussions

[LeTurc]

You remember Senna and Donnington. This was TC. Senna was more than this. Defending his position against Mansell with a 2 seconds a lap faster car at Monaco was way ahead of his GB93 performance.

[wyhphil]

my mistake

[molive]

Ross, get a clue





Senna4 EVER!

[Andy]

I remember the first time I saw Senna 'live', at the Canadian GP. It was around '84 and he was in the black "John Player's Special" car. For someone just getting into following F1 seriously, that was by far the coolest 'looking' car on the grid. To top it off, Ayrton Senna was it's driver! For the little I really knew about F1 at that time, I did know that Senna was the "F1 God"!!

In those days a General Admit ticket got you as close to the racing as you would want to be. I can still see Senna now, I could see his eyes through his visor, I was that close! I was standing behind a four foot high wire-mesh fence, about 20 feet from the edge of the track, as he braked to go through, what is now ironically called, the "Senna S" at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. In those days the start/finish/pits where farther down the Casino Straight and so they were coming into that right hander at full throttle (it wasn't an 'S' in those days, just a ~120º right hander and up the hill they went!).

I must dig around at home because I got some fantastic pics that day, even with my cheesie little Kodak 110 pocket camera. Especially at that corner as the cars appeared to almost stop in front of you! I know I got Senna because I remember I was so pleased it had come out so well! I can still see those eyes, I remember them because I thought how calm he looked for the fact that he was braking from over 200 mph!

[Dunder]

As others have said I can remember as if it was yesterday.

Aside for the grief for the man himself I worried about the future of F1 after that horrible weekend.

He was the best racing driver I have ever had the pleasure to see.

[f1seb]

It was a horrible day in F1 I remember being 15 years old and as I was going to the sunday mass his car just slammed into the wall. Being extremely mad at why did it take so long for the ambulance to get there...seemed like an eternity.....I didn't find out until later that afternoon during a hockey playoff game that Senna was killed.
RIP Senna..you were the best!

[g0nz]

I can remember the day like it was yesterday, it was a terrible weekend in general. I was physically sick for two days afterwards....RIP AYRTON.

[Rossi]

Senna was a great man. He will always be missed.

[John B]

As was the case with Gille's and Earnhardt's deaths, I remember the day all to well. The CNN story beginning "It is being called Formula One's blackest day." Earnhardt's win at Talladega and being somber in the winner's circle and expressing his condolences.

Senna memories for me include the 1988 Monaco qualifying lap, his first wins in the rain at Portugal and Spa in 1985, performance in the wet on dry tires in Canada 1989, and the wins for McLaren in 1993.

I believe that he was not defeated in any wet race that he finished (Monaco 1984 excepted...), correct me if I'm wrong there.

Also to be remembered from that weekend is Roland Ratzenberger, whose passing was overshadowed by the next day's events.

[Sergino]

It was one of my darkest day ever. I still remember exactly. After the accident happened I had a bad feeling, and I can't remember for the race, and when I heard the news at 6:00 pm I was totally schocked. At that time He was just everything for me. Hopefully I saw him winning at the Hungaroring in 1992 live.

Ayrton we will meet sometime - I know!

go and visit http://www.ayrton-se...es/tribute.html

[Flash]

Thanks for all the enjoy you gave me, you will be always in my heart... To the greatest of them all who gave his fans moments of blood, sweat and tears.
Rest in Peace.
http://www.sennadasi...enna/80MAY1.JPG
Keen on racing there Champ.

[kenny]

Like Murray Walker said it:
'There never has beenm or never will be anyone like Ayrton Senna'

Magic Senna-- Simply the best....

We miss you!!!!!

Ps. I just spend the day at Spa today... Remebering him...

[911]

RIP, Ayrton Senna da Silva. I still think about you daily.