Ayrton Senna

Who is Ayrton Senna?

Ayrton Senna da Silva was born in São Paulo into a well-off family and began kart racing as a child, showing exceptional speed from an early age. He moved to Europe to pursue single-seater racing and entered Formula One in 1984. Driving for teams including Lotus and, most famously, McLaren, he won three Formula One World Championships, in 1988, 1990 and 1991, and took 41 Grand Prix victories and a then-record number of pole positions. Celebrated for his blistering pace over a single lap, his mastery in wet conditions and his fierce rivalry with Alain Prost, Senna became a national hero in Brazil and a symbol of determination. He was also known for his philanthropy, quietly funding programs for underprivileged Brazilian children, later formalized through the Ayrton Senna Institute. He was killed in a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola in 1994, an event that led to major improvements in motorsport safety and prompted national mourning in Brazil.

Sources: Formula One (FIA) official race and championship records · Tom Rubython, 'The Life of Senna' (2004) · Ayrton Senna Institute (Instituto Ayrton Senna) official history