SPORT 31 facets of a Legend: Remembering Ayrton Senna

More than a champion, Ayrton Senna was a force of nature: intense, precise, and profoundly human. Rather than retell a single moment, this article traces 31 powerful glimpses into Senna’s life: from his earliest challenges to redefining how a race is won, personal codes to lasting global impact. Together, they reveal why his story endures — and how, over three decades on, he still sets the pace.

1 / In Monaco ‘88, Senna qualified 1.427s ahead of Prost, later saying he’d driven “beyond himself” in a trance-like state.

2 / At Donington ‘93, he overtook four drivers on the opening lap in pouring rain — one of F1®’s most iconic performances.

3 / Senna’s 65 pole positions remained unmatched for 12 years, a testament to his one-lap mastery.

4 / He won his first home Grand Prix™ in Brazil (1991), stuck in sixth gear, then cried on the podium from physical exhaustion.

5 / At the 1984 Nürburgring Race of Champions, Senna beat 19 elite drivers in identical Mercedes cars. The young unknown turned giant.

6 / Between 1984 and 1993, the driver competed in ten editions of the Grand Prix de Monaco, achieving six victories, five pole positions, four fastest laps, eight podium finishes, and six hat-tricks. His six victories in the Principality remain a record to this day.

7 / In 1985, his second Formula 1® season, Senna outqualified his Lotus teammate 7–1, scoring more poles than anyone else that year.

8 / He finished every race in the top 10 for 137 consecutive qualifying sessions — still the longest streak in F1® history.

9 / After crashing in Dallas ’84, he told engineers the wall had moved. It had — by just a few millimetres. He noticed.-

10 / At Suzuka in 1990, Senna took Alain Prost out at Turn 1 — a controversial move that secured his second world title.

16 / At Spa in 1992, Senna stopped mid-race to help Érik Comas after a crash—cutting the engine of Comas’s car to prevent it from exploding and stabilising his neck until medics arrived. Comas later said Senna had saved his life.

17 / He was a profoundly spiritual man, often praying before races and speaking openly about his belief in God and destiny.

18 / Senna donated millions quietly and co-founded a foundation to fight child poverty just weeks before his passing. This became the Ayrton Senna Institute, which has since supported over 35 million young lives in Brazil.

19 / He used to practice karting in the rain for hours to master his early weakness, eventually becoming the “Rain Master.”

20 / After the 1993 Australian Grand Prix™, he joined Tina Turner on stage. Her tribute? “The best,” she told the crowd, dedicating her song Simply The Best to Senna.

21 / He was multilingual — fluent in Portuguese, English, Spanish, and Italian — which helped build his global fanbase.

22 / Chess was a favourite off-track pursuit; Frank Williams noted he’d plan three moves ahead with counterattacks.

23 / His rival-turned-friendship with Alain Prost was sealed when he whispered “I miss you, Alain” before his final lap at Imola.

24 / Senna once revealed he had no racing idols. “I admire hard work, dedication, and competence,” he said. Not personalities, but principles.

25 / In 1983, Senna tested for McLaren, Brabham, Toleman, and Williams. Despite a blown engine, he set the day’s fastest time in a McLaren​.

26 / As a child, Senna struggled with motor coordination and underwent neurological exams. He eventually turned that frailty into his greatest strength.

Ayrton Senna’s story isn’t measured in wins alone. It lives in the details: the Brazilian legend’s discipline, defiance, and drive to go beyond limits. These 31 snapshots remind us why his name still commands reverence, and why, three decades on, his presence on the track—and far beyond it—has never truly faded.