34 replies to this topic

[RedFever]

I remeber it very clearly, an interview on Italian TV wit Ayrton, who asked about him driving one day a Ferrari, replied that driving a Ferrari was every F1 driver's dream and that he was no exception. However, he added, he was waiting for the right time and he was confident Montezemolo would restructure the team successfully and restore it to its competitive level.

Two or three times I mentioned this interview here on Atlas and I have been derided for saying this, particularly by McLaren fans, more that Senna fans, who in the end didn't care for what team he drove, as long as he kept winning.

In the last F1 Magazine, finally there is a comfirm of this desire Ayrton had to drive for the Italian team. It comes from his fiance' who had just moved in his house in Portugal and was waiting for his return from Imola when the accident happened. Ayrton intended to marry her but fate decided otherwise. Here are her words on the subject:

She recalls his words the last time they were at Angra (his Brazilian estate) together: "One day I will marry you and one day I will work for Ferrai. I will end my career there and end my life with you".

He told her he planned to leave Williams two years hence, when he believed the team would peak, and move to Ferrari who he believed would then have its act together after the return of Luca di Montezemolo as boss. He told her: "Even if the Ferrari is as slow as a Volkswagen Beetle, I still want to be driving it on my last start, mt last lap, my last race. Ferrari is the myth of Formula One. The tradition, the soul, the passion".

And that was it. She would never see him again.


This article not only comfirms Ayrton' incredible sense of opportunity, always capable of sensing when it was a good time to join or leave a team (Williams indeed did peak two years later, the 97 title was far from dominant) and Ferrari did indeed get his act together (he had already nailed the move from McLaren to Williams, had he survived, he would have driven the best car in the world in 95-96), but also his long running love for the Italian team. Destiny, not Ayrton, decided this marriage was not meant to happen.

[Mickey]

Coincidentally, this is also confirmed by his sister Viviane in an interview published last week by Italian magazine Autosprint.

[The Soul Stealer]

Originally posted by RedFever
Ferrari is the myth of Formula One. The tradition, the soul, the passion

[A3]

Nice one.

[Simioni]

No news there, I've got a few taped interviews in which Senna declares his love and interest in driving for ferrari in the future. He was very close to joining then for the 87 season, but after Senna managed to seal the lotus-mclaren-honda negotiations he decided to stay where he were. There was also several negotiations in the course of the 92 season but despite a US$ 50 million offer for two years Senna decided against joining the team because they were still in too big disarray. It was certainly his plan for the future though, so much that ferrari hired John Barnard under his advice.

I thought you'd like this quote Redfever:

"I used to practice 3 times a week at Interlagos. In one practice day for the brazil GP of 1978 I noticed a sound different from everything I'd heard in terms of engine. I jumped over the wall that divides the race and kart tracks and couldn't believe what I was seeing. A ferrari, red, robust, swallowing the big straight of Interlagos at absurd speed. Afterwards I got to know that it was Gilles Villeneuve who was accelerating the monster that made us shiver with the sound of the 12-cylinder engine. For someone that had only seen ferrari in pictures that was a magic moment. However F1 still seemed like a fantasy, something unreal. A mirage that I saw from above a wall, pinching myself to realize it wasn't fiction. I couldn't even dream of driving one of those cars."

[molive]

The prob is that AS always wanted to be in the top team, at least one that could give him a chance of WDCs. I doubt that he would have passed the option of Williams (after they dominated 93 with Prost) to build a winning Ferrari like MS did.

Yes, AS´s dreams were red, but I think he fancied the top step even more.

Maybe, if Imola94 had never happened, Ayrton would get a couple more titles, tie with Fangio, add a few more poles to his amazing record, and then maybe he would take the Ferrari for a ride, ending his career in 98.

It would have been be great to watch, no doubt.

[Ross Stonefeld]

I think Senna's final year would have been 97, I dont think he'd have put up with grooved tires

[coyoteBR]

Slight OT:
Once, Maurício Gugelmin was asked if, like many drivers, his dream was also to drive for Ferrari. His answer:
"If it's winning races, even an Osella will do!"

[Williams]

It sounds like Senna would have been willing to drive a Ferrari either if the car was competitive or if he was at the end of his career and had already had his fill of wins.

[Simioni]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
I think Senna's final year would have been 97, I dont think he'd have put up with grooved tires

would there be grooved tires if he'd lived though? His death was such a landmark that the idea of him living creates a parallel universe that it's hard even to speculate on.

[kenny]

I always heard 'rumours' that Senna already had his Ferrari contract for 1996...

[No27]

Originally posted by kenny
I always heard 'rumours' that Senna already had his Ferrari contract for 1996...

So instead of him, they took Schumacher?

[JForce]

Originally posted by RedFever
Ferrari is the myth of Formula One. The tradition, the soul, the passion".

[kenny]

Originally posted by No27


So instead of him, they took Schumacher?

Well, as I said, it's a rumour, and I have no source what so ever for this..
but it seems like ms indeed took Senna's Ferrari in 96...

[Ross Stonefeld]

Originally posted by No27


So instead of him, they took Schumacher?

uhm...Senna wasnt availible in 1996

[ffiloseta]

Originally posted by coyoteBR
Slight OT:
Once, Maurício Gugelmin was asked if, like many drivers, his dream was also to drive for Ferrari. His answer:
"If it's winning races, even an Osella will do!"

There ! He wanted THE CAR to win. Maybe he knew he wasn't good enough.

[Darren]

Come on senninha, you have a theory on this don't you? Something about B-grade hacks going to Ferrari to bolster their reputations, as I remember.

[Sammyed]

Speculations....Ayrton is gone folks.

By now he could have at least 7 WDC.

[senninha]

Originally posted by Darren
Come on senninha, you have a theory on this don't you? Something about B-grade hacks going to Ferrari to bolster their reputations, as I remember.

Call me?

At least you say directily my knick whenever others crtiticize not using my name ....


Senna was not different than others. He could deal very well with the media. IMHO, Senna didn't care much for Ferrari (he would never change a competitive british car to drive for Ferrari unless Ferrari had offered tons of money to him,as did with MS).

Since i don't like Ferrari, i'm glad Senna never needed to drive there to be recognized forever.

[cavedog]

I remember watching this show on speedvision where Sir Stirling Moss was partnering a young chap named Senna in a Mercedes touring car race in 1984 @ Hockenheim. He was extremely impressed by Senna's performance....and thus recommended Ferrari to have a look at this guy, who were actually looking for a driver at that time.

But unfortunately for Ferrari, they refused and took someone else.....and the rest is history!!!

I also heard that Ferrari learned big time from their mistake and thats why they got hold of Michael Schumacher when they could to avoid another fiasco.

[baddog]

ayrton senna "Ferrari is the myth of Formula One. The tradition, the soul, the passion"

senninha "Senna didn't care much for Ferrari"

Shaun "senninha is full of it"

[umapathypon]

Originally posted by baddog
ayrton senna "Ferrari is the myth of Formula One. The tradition, the soul, the passion"

senninha "Senna didn't care much for Ferrari"

Shaun "senninha is full of it"

my signature...

[HSJ]

"Ferrari is the myth of Formula One. The tradition, the soul, the passion "

And I'm sick to my stomach.;)

Funny thing is that it seems I was knowledgeable about these things about AS far before the tifosi. Or are you just now only bringing it up? I can remember hearing about this for the first time at least a year ago, and of course the latest F1 Mag just confirmed it.

[Foxbat]

Originally posted by HSJ
"Ferrari is the myth of Formula One. The tradition, the soul, the passion "

And I'm sick to my stomach.;)

Funny thing is that it seems I was knowledgeable about these things about AS far before the tifosi.

It has been in the air for a decade now, but as you say generally as unconfirmed rumour.

Or are you just now only bringing it up? I can remember hearing about this for the first time at least a year ago, and of course the latest F1 Mag just confirmed it.

Hey Ferrari is F1 no wonder Senna wanted to go there, he lived F1 after all.

[magic]

Have You all heard the news? Jos has a seat at Ferrari, the news is just in.

[Tazio Nuvolari]

Its all speculation anyways, as many myths as truths will surround the Senna legend, if you believe all the stories about Gilles he had a contract to drive a Ferrari for 83 as well as one with McLarens as well as one with Brabham and he was supposedly setting up his own team. like with Senna we will never know.

If this story is true Senna was 34 when he died had he raced 2 seasons with Williams he would have been 36, its unlikely that at that age Ferrari would have wanted him anyways because they rejected Alain Prost's offer to drive for them when he was a similar age.

[RedFever]

"I used to practice 3 times a week at Interlagos. In one practice day for the brazil GP of 1978 I noticed a sound different from everything I'd heard in terms of engine. I jumped over the wall that divides the race and kart tracks and couldn't believe what I was seeing. A ferrari, red, robust, swallowing the big straight of Interlagos at absurd speed. Afterwards I got to know that it was Gilles Villeneuve who was accelerating the monster that made us shiver with the sound of the 12-cylinder engine. For someone that had only seen ferrari in pictures that was a magic moment. However F1 still seemed like a fantasy, something unreal. A mirage that I saw from above a wall, pinching myself to realize it wasn't fiction. I couldn't even dream of driving one of those cars."

Nice quote. Is it Ayrton or Rubens?


No, Prost was not sacked for his age (he won another title after Ferrari, duh!!!!), but because he said a truck was better than his Ferrari....... (not in Nigel's hands, though....)

At 37-38, Ayrton would have still been fast, if he still had the stimuli to race.

No, it is not news, but anytime I discussed this in the past (2 years ago), I was attacked as a lunatic that wished Senna would have raced for Ferrari. Instead now within 2 weeks we get both Ayrton's fiance and very close sister comfirming he was going to drive for Ferrari before retiring, as he had nothing left to prove and simply wanted to follow his heart.

[pRy]

She recalls his words the last time they were at Angra (his Brazilian estate) together: "One day I will marry you and one day I will work for Ferrai. I will end my career there and end my life with you".

That quote seems a little far fetched to me.

[Tazio Nuvolari]

You missed my point RedFever

I wasn't talking about Prost getting sacked at Ferrari

A couple of years after his retirement from F1 after winning for Williams Alain Prost offered his services to Ferrari as a race driver (was either for 1995 or 96, can't remember this late at night) but Ferrari rejected the offer of Prost to come back, presumably on the grounds of age.

Its hypothetical but I think Senna would have retired at the end of 1995, he was already at the time of his death preparing for retirement with buying Audi dealerships and other business interests and that makes me believe he would have made those 2 seasons at Williams the last of his career

[Darren]

Originally posted by Tazlo Nuvolari
You missed my point RedFever

I wasn't talking about Prost getting sacked at Ferrari

A couple of years after his retirement from F1 after winning for Williams Alain Prost offered his services to Ferrari as a race driver (was either for 1995 or 96, can't remember this late at night) but Ferrari rejected the offer of Prost to come back, presumably on the grounds of age.

Presumably, but not actually. Prost back at Ferrari was viewed as a good team motivator. Yup, motivate the team right out the door. Not exactly the sacking itself, but don't go thinking it didn't have lingering consequences.

[RedFever]

the point, pry, is very simple. Clearly the quote might have been emellished or rather, synthesized in a few words to summarize what Ayrton told her in maybe 15 minutes before leaving for Imola.

However, you either believe that her and Ayrton's sister are two liers, who for no personal gain at all invent stories on Ayrton's past, or that as two women who were very close to the Brazilian, they actually know what they are talking about. There is no other conclusion.

[remmosffej]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
I think Senna's final year would have been 97, I dont think he'd have put up with grooved tires

But, would there have been grooved tires if Senna hadn't died at Imola?

[theMot]

Ok so Senna wanted to go to Ferrari, would Ferrari take him over MS though?

ahhhhh

Personally i think MS would have kicked his arse if he lived, MS was younger and had more of a future ahead of him, i think MS would be the one sitting in the Ferrari still.

[man from martinlaakso]

It is true, that AS wanted to drive the Ferrari and the negotiations were intensive, but Prost was then a Ferrari driver and his NO was enough to sabotage the team change of AS. Later AS made the deal with Williams, but it is quite possible, that he had changed to Ferrari in a later phase, if he had won at least a title with Williams. Williams was then the strong car, Benetton being almost equal, so AN did not have many options then. AN wanted a competative car, and McLaren had its slump with an underpowered engine (although AN won four GPs with that car in 1993).

[senninha]

Who's AN? Adrian Newey?

btw: AS won 5 times in 93...