Ayrton Senna da Silva (21-March–1960\01 May 1994) was a Brazilian racing driver who won three Formula One World Championships. He was killed in an accident while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. He remains the last driver fatality
in formula One.
Senna began his motorsport career in karting, moving up to
open-wheel racing in 1981, and winning the British Formula 3 championship in 1983. He made his Formula One debut
with Toleman-Hart in 1984 before moving to Lotus-Renault
the following year and winning six Grand Prix over the next
three seasons.
open-wheel racing in 1981, and winning the British Formula 3 championship in 1983. He made his Formula One debut
with Toleman-Hart in 1984 before moving to Lotus-Renault
the following year and winning six Grand Prix over the next
three seasons.
In 1988, he joined Frenchman Alain Prost at McLaren-Honda. Between them, they won all but one of the 16 Grand Prix
that year and Senna claimed his first World Championship.
Prost claimed the championship title in 1989, and Senna
his second and third championships in 1990 and 1991.
In 1992, the Williams-Renault combination began to
dominate Formula One. Senna nonetheless managed
to finish the 1993 season as runner up, winning five races
and negotiating a move to Williams in 1994.
that year and Senna claimed his first World Championship.
Prost claimed the championship title in 1989, and Senna
his second and third championships in 1990 and 1991.
In 1992, the Williams-Renault combination began to
dominate Formula One. Senna nonetheless managed
to finish the 1993 season as runner up, winning five races
and negotiating a move to Williams in 1994.
Senna has often been voted as one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time in various motorsport polls. He was recognized for his qualifying speed over one lap and from 1989 to 2006 held the record for most pole positions. He was also acclaimed for his wet weather performances, such as the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix. The 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix. And the 1993 European Grand Prix. He holds a record six victories at the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix, and is the third most successful driver of all time in terms of race wins. Senna courted controversy throughout his career, particularly during his turbulent rivalry with Alain Prost. Both the 1989 Championship won by Prost and the 1990 Championship won by Senna were decided by collisions between the pair at those years` Japanese Grand Prix.
