Ayrton Senna#Appraisals

File:Ayrton Senna - 3 Years Old.jpg

Senna was born at 2:35 BRT on 21 March 1960, in the Pro-Matre Maternity Hospital of Santana, a neighbourhood of São Paulo.{{cite web |date=9 June 2009 |title=Gafisa presta homenagem a Ayrton Senna: "morador ilustre a gente não esquece" |trans-title=Gafisa pays tribute to Ayrton Senna: "we will not forget illustrious residents" |url=http://senna.globo.com/institutoayrtonsenna/br/noticias_interna.asp?cod_Noticia=128 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711101703/http://senna.globo.com/institutoayrtonsenna/br/noticias_interna.asp?cod_Noticia=128 |archive-date=11 July 2011 |access-date=2 October 2010 |website=Instituto Ayrton Senna |language=pt-BR}} The middle child of a wealthy Brazilian family, he was born to landowner and factory owner Milton Guirado da Silva and his wife Neide Joanna Senna da Silva; he had an older sister, Viviane, and a younger brother, Leonardo.{{cite web|title=Ayrton Senna: Tragic Hero|url=http://www.f1-grandprixhistory.net/Senna.html#Introduction|publisher=History and Legends of Grand Prix Racing|access-date=30 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001080432/http://www.f1-grandprixhistory.net/Senna.html#Introduction|archive-date=1 October 2012}}{{Cite web |date=1 May 2024 |title=Who was Ayrton Senna and why is he regarded as one of F1's greatest drivers? |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/who-was-ayrton-senna-and-why-is-he-regarded-as-one-of-f1s-greatest-drivers.2GZEdmgHd9mPeCae2n6n4K |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501072641/https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/who-was-ayrton-senna-and-why-is-he-regarded-as-one-of-f1s-greatest-drivers.2GZEdmgHd9mPeCae2n6n4K |archive-date=1 May 2024 |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=formula1.com |publisher=Formula 1 |language=en}} Senna was born of both Italian and Spanish heritage: his mother was the granddaughter of Italian immigrants, and his father was born to a Spanish mother from Tíjola, Andalusia.{{cite web |last=Taddone |first=Daniel |date=December 15, 2019 |title=A genealogia de Ayrton Senna |trans-title=Ayrton Senna's genealogy |url=https://www.insieme.com.br/pb/a-genealogia-de-ayrton-senna/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325130834/https://www.insieme.com.br/pb/a-genealogia-de-ayrton-senna/ |archive-date=25 March 2020 |access-date=February 20, 2021 |language=pt-BR}}

The house where Senna spent the first four years of his life belonged to his maternal grandfather, João Senna, located less than {{convert|100|m|ft}} from Campo de Marte, where his family operated the Aeronautics Material park and an airport. Senna was highly athletic—excelling in gymnastics and other sports—and developed an interest in cars and motor racing by the age of four. He had poor motor coordination and had trouble climbing stairways by the age of three; an electroencephalogram showed no abnormalities. Senna's parents nicknamed him Beco.{{cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/who-was-ayrton-senna-and-why-is-he-regarded-as-one-of-f1s-greatest-drivers.2GZEdmgHd9mPeCae2n6n4K|title=Who was Ayrton Senna and why is he regarded as one of F1's greatest drivers?|date=1 May 2024|access-date=29 November 2024|website=Formula 1}} At the age of seven, Senna first learned to drive a Jeep around his family's farm and also how to change gears without using a clutch.{{cite book |title=Formula One: The Story of Grand Prix Racing |last=Kapadia |first=Behram |year=2004 |publisher=Silverdale Books |isbn=1-85605-899-9 |page=66}}

Senna attended the Colégio Rio Branco in the São Paulo neighbourhood of Higienópolis and graduated in 1977 with a grade 5 in physics, alongside other grades in mathematics, chemistry, and English. He later enrolled in a college that specialised in business administration, but dropped out after three months with an average grade of 68%.{{cite web |url=http://veja.abril.com.br/especiais/extras/fechado/senna04.html |title=100 anos em 34 |website=Veja |date=May 3, 1994 |access-date=February 20, 2021 |language=pt |trans-title=100 years in 34 |archive-date=18 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518140704/http://veja.abril.com.br/especiais/extras/fechado/senna04.html |url-status=live }}{{cite book|last=Williams|first=Richard|title=The Death of Ayrton Senna|year=2010 |orig-date=1995|publisher=Penguin Books}}{{Page needed|date=April 2023}}

File:Ayrton Senna Karting.jpg at 13.]]

Senna's first go-kart was built by his father, who operated an automotive factory, using a small 1 hp lawnmower engine.{{cite web|url=https://thecinemaholic.com/silva-auto-parts/|title=Silva Auto Parts Factory: Did It Exist? Where is it Located? Is it Still Operational?|date=29 November 2024|access-date=29 November 2024|first=Kriti|last=Mehrotra|website=TheCinemaholic}}{{cite web|url=https://silodrome.com/ayrton-sennas-last-kart/|title=Ayrton Senna's Last Kart – He Drove It 6 Weeks Before His Death|date=20 August 2018|access-date=29 November 2024|first=Ben|last=Branch|website=Silodrome}} Senna started racing at Interlagos and entered his first kart racing competition at the age of 13."Ayrton Senna – The Right to Win (2004){{Page needed|date=April 2023|time=yes}} He started his debut race on pole position, against drivers who were several years older than him; he managed to lead most of the race before retiring after colliding with an opponent. His father supported him throughout his karting career, with Lucio Pascal Gascon becoming his manager.Ayrton Senna: Racing in My Blood, Official Video Biography (Kultur Video, 1991).{{Page needed|date=April 2023|time=yes}}

Senna won the South American Kart Championship in 1977. He contested the Karting World Championship five times from 1978 to 1982, finishing runner-up in 1979 and 1980.{{cite web|url=http://www.motorsportsetc.com/info/senna.htm|title=Ayrton Senna – Racing Career|publisher=MotorSports Etc|access-date=12 May 2008|archive-date=25 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925225713/http://www.motorsportsetc.com/info/senna.htm|url-status=live}} From 1978 to 1980, he was the teammate and rival of Terry Fullerton at DAP; their fierce rivalry saw several 1–2 finishes in major competitions. Senna later stated that Fullerton was the rival he got the most satisfaction racing against, owing to the lack of money and politics at that level, describing it as "pure racing".{{cite news |last=Calkin |first=Jessamy |date=20 May 2011 |title=Senna: the driver who lit up Formula One |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/8524259/Senna-the-driver-who-lit-up-Formula-One.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/8524259/Senna-the-driver-who-lit-up-Formula-One.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |access-date=15 August 2012 |newspaper=The Telegraph |location=London}}{{cbignore}}

File:Ayrton Senna Beginning - Formula Ford 1981, Van Diemen.jpg with Van Diemen.|left]]

In 1981, Senna moved to Eaton, a suburb of Norwich in England,{{Cite news |last1=Hayes |first1=Paul |last2=Applegate |first2=Zoe |date=May 4, 2014 |title=Ayrton Senna: Racing legend's Norwich years |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-27241760 |access-date=17 April 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417172454/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-27241760 |archive-date=17 April 2021}} to pursue an open-wheel racing career; he began his career in Formula Ford 1600, winning the British and Townsend Thoresen Championships that year with Van Diemen,{{Cite web |last=Barlow |first=Jason |title=Ayrton Senna's early days: five moments from five people |url=https://www.topgear.com/car-news/motorsport/ayrton-sennas-early-days-five-moments-five-people |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=BBC TopGear |archive-date=3 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603204858/https://www.topgear.com/car-news/motorsport/ayrton-sennas-early-days-five-moments-five-people |url-status=live }} amid a fractious rivalry with teammate Enrique Mansilla.{{cite web|url=https://www.the-race.com/single-seater-open-wheel/enrique-mansilla-quique-war-kidnap-ayrton-senna/|title=Motorsport's forgotten talent who survived war, kidnap and Senna|website=The Race|date=25 December 2023|access-date=29 November 2024|first=Sam|last=Smith}} Senna initially did not believe he would continue in motorsport.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

At the end of that season, under pressure from his parents to take up a role in the family business, Senna announced his retirement from Formula Ford and returned to Brazil.{{Page needed|date=April 2023}}{{sfnp|Hilton|1999|pp=38–40}} Before leaving England, Senna was offered a drive with a two-litre Formula Ford team—Rushen Green Racing—for {{currency|10,000|GBP}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.ayrton-senna.net/ayrton-senna-from-a-to-z/|title=Ayrton Senna: From A to Z|date=17 August 2014|access-date=29 November 2024|website=Ayrton Senna}} Back in Brazil, he decided to take this offer and returned to live in England.{{cite web|url=https://www.gptoday.net/en/news/f1/246416/ayrton-senna-special-part-6-ayrton-senna-back-in-europe-a-glorious-year-in-formula-ford-2000|title=Ayrton Senna Special: Part 6 - Ayrton Senna back in Europe - A glorious year in Formula Ford 2000|date=3 April 2019|access-date=29 November 2024|website=GPToday|first=Fergal|last=Walsh}} As da Silva is the most common Brazilian surname, he adopted his maternal surname, Senna.{{sfnp|Hilton|2005|pp=9, 33–43, 154}} For 1982, Senna arrived with sponsorship from Banerj and Pool,{{Page needed|date=April 2023}} dominating the British and European Championships, winning 15 of 17 races held at the former.{{cite news |date=30 April 2008 |title=From the Vault: F1 is robbed one of its most dazzling talents |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/apr/30/formulaone |access-date=30 April 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505113059/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/apr/30/formulaone |archive-date=5 May 2008 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London}}

In 1983, Senna drove in the British Formula Three Championship for West Surrey Racing. He dominated the first half of the season until Martin Brundle, driving a similar car for Eddie Jordan Racing, closed the gap in the second part of the championship. Senna won the title at the final round after a closely fought and, at times, contentious battle with Brundle.{{sfnp|Hilton|2004|pp=99–116}} In November that year, Senna also triumphed at the inaugural Macau Formula Three Grand Prix with the Toyota-powered Theodore Racing Team, owned by Teddy Yip.{{sfnp|Hilton|2005|pp=43–47, 154}}Greg Girard, Ian Lambot, and Philip Newsome, Macau Grand Prix: The Road To Success (Watermark Surrey, 1998).{{Page needed|date=April 2023}} Senna was managed for most of his junior career by Armando Teixeira, who was assisted by Domingos Piedade.{{Cite news |last=Watkins |first=Gary |date=June 2006 |title=Ayrton Senna's sportscar cameo |website=Motor Sport |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/june-2006/77/ayrton-senna |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321092702/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/june-2006/77/ayrton-senna |archive-date=21 March 2021 |accessdate=2022-08-16}}

{{Ayrton Senna series}}

Ahead of the 1984 season, Senna was linked to many Formula One teams but received very few offers he liked. He had previously declined a long-term contract from McLaren,{{Cite web |last=Malik |first=Ibrar |date=2020-04-22 |title=Ayrton Senna's Lotus years, by Ibrar Malik |url=http://www.talkingaboutf1.com/2020/04/ayrton-sennas-lotus-years-by-ibrar-malik.html |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=Talking About F1}}{{Cite web |title=Ron Dennis on Senna - Part one: the early years |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/features/2014/4/Ron-Dennis-on-Senna---Part-one-the-early-years.html |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Formula 1® - The Official F1® Website |language=en}} and that door was formally closed when Alain Prost (unexpectedly fired by Renault after finishing runner-up in 1983) received the second McLaren seat.{{Cite web |title=Frenchman Alain Prost, dismissed by Renault after finishing second... - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/10/24/Frenchman-Alain-Prost-dismissed-by-Renault-after-finishing-second/9901435816000/ |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=UPI |language=en}} He was also linked to Lotus and Brabham, but both teams' title sponsors (Imperial Tobacco / John Player & Sons for Lotus and Parmalat for Brabham) wanted drivers from their respective home countries, so Lotus retained Nigel Mansell{{Cn|date=February 2025}} and Brabham signed brothers Teo and Corrado Fabi.{{Cite web |last= |date=2019-03-03 |title=Flashback: When Senna tested for Brabham-BMW |url=https://www.grandprix247.com/2019/03/03/flashback-when-senna-tested-for-brabham/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=GRANDPRIX247.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Malik |first=Ibrar |date=2020-04-22 |title=Ayrton Senna's Lotus years, by Ibrar Malik |url=http://www.talkingaboutf1.com/2020/04/ayrton-sennas-lotus-years-by-ibrar-malik.html |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=Talking About F1}} In addition, Brabham's lead driver, Nelson Piquet, vetoed Senna from Brabham and arranged for the team to sign his friend Roberto Moreno as the test driver.{{cite magazine |last=Clarkson |first=Tom |date=18 October 2012 |title=When Senna drove for Brabham |magazine=F1 Racing |publisher=Haymarket Publications |pages=62–67 |volume=201 |issue=November 2012}}{{sfnp|Rubython|2004|p=90}} Consequently, Senna joined Toleman, a relatively new team, using less competitive Pirelli tyres.{{sfnp|Hilton|2004|pp=121–122}}{{cite book |last=Drackett |first=Phil |title=Brabham : Story of a racing team |publisher=Arthur Barker |year=1985 |isbn=0-213-16915-0 |pages=134–135}} He was paired with Venezuelan Johnny Cecotto, a former Grand Prix motorcycle racing world champion.{{cite web |date=25 January 2010 |title=Happy birthday to Johnny Cecotto |url=http://richardsf1.com/2010/01/25/happy-birthday-to-johnny-cecotto/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104045824/http://richardsf1.com/2010/01/25/happy-birthday-to-johnny-cecotto/ |archive-date=4 November 2013}}

In 1983, Senna tested for McLaren, Brabham, Williams, and Toleman, although Williams also lacked a vacancy.{{cite news |last=Benson |first=Andrew |date=1 May 2009 |title=Senna Remembered |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3605323.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503020557/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3605323.stm |archive-date=3 May 2009 |access-date=1 May 2009 |work=BBC Sport}} Both Williams boss Frank Williams and McLaren boss Ron Dennis observed that Senna insisted that he got to run their cars before anyone else (other than their regular drivers such as Keke Rosberg) so that he would have the best chance of a good showing by having a fresh car.{{Cn|date=February 2025}} During his test for Williams at Donington Park, Senna completed 40 laps and was quicker than the other drivers, including Rosberg, Williams's reigning World Champion.

{{Main article|Toleman#1984: Peaking with Ayrton Senna}}

File:Toleman TG184.jpg from {{F1|1984}} on display in the Donington Grand Prix Collection]]

Senna made his debut at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Rio de Janeiro, where he qualified 17th but retired when the Hart 415T turbocharger failed on lap 8.{{sfnp|Rubython|2005|p=94}} He scored his first World Championship point when he finished sixth in his second race at the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami with severe cramp in his neck and shoulders, and replicated that result two weeks later at the Belgian Grand Prix.{{sfnp|Rubython|2005|p=94}}{{cite web |title=1984 Belgian Grand Prix |url=http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1984/313/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104031451/http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1984/313/ |archive-date=4 November 2014 |access-date=4 September 2020 |website=formula1.com |publisher=Formula 1 |url-status=dead}} A combination of tyre issues and a fuel-pressure problem resulted in his failure to qualify for the San Marino Grand Prix, the only time this happened during his career. Toleman decided not to run both cars during Friday qualifying at Imola due to a dispute with tyre supplier Pirelli (Toleman were in the process of switching from Pirelli to Michelin). Senna then suffered a fuel-pressure problem in the wet Saturday session at Tosa (the furthest point on the circuit from the pits) and did not have enough time for it to be fixed to allow him to make the grid.{{sfnp|Hilton|2004|p=138}}

Senna's best result of the season came at the Monaco Grand Prix, the first wet-weather race of the season. Qualifying 13th on the grid, he made steady progress in climbing through the field, passing Niki Lauda for second on lap 19. He quickly began to cut the gap to race leader Alain Prost. Before he could attack Prost, the race was stopped on lap 31 for safety reasons, as the rain had grown even heavier. At the time the race was stopped, Senna was catching Prost by about 4 seconds per lap (while the Tyrrell-Ford of Stefan Bellof was catching both at the same rate, although he was later disqualified due to weight restrictions broken by Tyrrell).{{sfnp|Hughes|Arron|2003|p=310}}

Early on his career, Senna developed a reputation for providing very specific technical details about the performance of his cars and track conditions long before the advent of telemetry. This skill led Toleman's Pat Symonds, Senna's first Formula One race engineer, to regard the Dallas Grand Prix as the initial highlight of Senna's debut season, instead of Monaco. In an interview, Symonds recalled:{{cite news |last=Vasconcelos |first=Luis |date=1 May 2014 |title=Pat Symonds remembers Senna: Ayrton moved the goal posts! |url=https://www.grandprix.com/features/feature-pat-symonds-remembers-senna-ayrton-moved-the-goal-posts.html |access-date=2 September 2021 |archive-date=2 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902185516/https://www.grandprix.com/features/feature-pat-symonds-remembers-senna-ayrton-moved-the-goal-posts.html |url-status=live }}

The car was reasonably competitive there, so we expected to have a good race, but Ayrton spun early in the race. He then found his way back through the field in a quite effective way and we were looking for a pretty good finish, but then he hit the wall, damaged the rear wheel and the driveshaft and retired, which was a real shame. The real significance of that was that when he came back to the pits he told me what happened and said "I'm sure that the wall moved!" And even though I've heard every excuse every driver has ever made, I certainly hadn't heard of that one! But Ayrton being Ayrton, with his incredible belief in himself, the absolute conviction, he then talked me into going with him after the race to have a look at the place where he had crashed. And he was absolutely right, which was the amazing thing! Dallas being a street circuit, the track was surrounded by concrete blocks and what had happened – we could see it from the tyre marks – was that someone had hit at the far end of the concrete block and that made it swivel slightly, so that the leading edge of the block was standing out by a few millimetres. And he was driving with such precision that those few millimetres were the difference between hitting the wall and not hitting the wall. While I had been, at first, annoyed that we had retired from the race through a driver error, when I saw what had happened, when I saw how he had been driving, that increased my respect for the guy by quite a lot.

Senna had some health issues during the season. Concerned about his low weight, he hired Nuno Cobra to assess his physical condition. By the end of the year, Senna had developed Bell's palsy, possibly from a virus. One side of his face had become completely paralysed; Sid Watkins gave Senna steroids to preserve the possibility of recovery.{{sfnp|Rubython|2005|p=99}}

File:1985 European GP Senna.jpg at the 1985 European Grand Prix]]

Senna was partnered in his first year at Lotus-Renault by Italian driver Elio de Angelis. He had dominated testing times at Rio, although he retired with electrical issues during the race weekend. Although the Renault-powered Lotus 97T was quick and nimble, particularly on tight and bumpy circuits and perhaps had the best suspension of any car that year, the car was unreliable and Senna made a few mistakes out of inexperience. At the second round of the season, the Portuguese Grand Prix, Senna took the first pole position of his Formula 1 career. He converted it into his first victory in the race, which was held in very wet conditions, winning by over a minute from the Ferrari of Michele Alboreto,{{sfnp|Collings|Edworthy|2002|p=208}} and lapping everyone up to and including third placed Patrick Tambay. The race was the first Grand Slam of Senna's career, as he also set the fastest lap of the race. He later argued it was the best drive of his career,{{cite news |last=Roebuck |first=Nigel |date=16 June 2000 |title=Legends: Estoril 1985 |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/april-2000/16/legends-estoril-1985 |access-date=12 November 2020 |work=Motor Sport |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814234526/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/april-2000/16/legends-estoril-1985 |archive-date=14 August 2020 |url-status=live }} an opinion shared by race engineer Steve Hallam, who recognised Senna's "truly special" talent.{{cite web |last=Elson |first=James |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/the-revelation-of-estoril-ayrton-sennas-1985-portuguese-gp-win |title=Revelation of Estoril: how Ayrton Senna won the 1985 Portuguese GP |date=23 October 2020 |access-date=9 February 2021 |work=Motor Sport |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209094550/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/the-revelation-of-estoril-ayrton-sennas-1985-portuguese-gp-win |archive-date=9 February 2021 |url-status=live }}

Senna led at the San Marino, Monaco, British and German Grands Prix but retired from all these races either from engine failure or running out of fuel, and he had a huge accident at the French Grand Prix at the Circuit Paul Ricard's fastest corner after an engine failure in the middle of the corner. He did not finish in the points again until coming second at the Austrian Grand Prix, despite taking pole three more times in the intervening period. His determination to take pole at the Monaco Grand Prix had infuriated Alboreto and Niki Lauda; Senna had set a fast time early and was accused of deliberately baulking the other drivers by running more laps than necessary, a charge he rejected, although the accusations continued in Canada when drivers accused him of running on the racing line when on his slow down lap forcing others on qualifiers to move off line and lose time.{{cite book |editor-last=Hamilton |editor-first=Maurice |year=1985 |title=Autocourse 1985 – 1986 |publisher=Hazleton Publishing |pages=74 & 104 |isbn=0-905138-38-4}} Two more podiums followed in the Netherlands and Italy, before Senna added his second victory in wet-dry conditions, at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.{{sfnp|Hilton|2004|p=427}} Senna's relationship with De Angelis soured over the season, as both drivers demanded top driver status within Lotus and, after spending six years at the team, De Angelis departed for Brabham at the end of the year, convinced that Lotus were becoming focused around the Brazilian driver.{{sfnp|Hilton|2004|p=163}} Senna and De Angelis finished the season 4th and 5th respectively in the driver rankings, separated by five points. In terms of qualifying, Senna had begun to establish himself as the quickest in the field; his tally of seven poles that season was far more than that of any of the other drivers. Renault's V6 qualifying engines were reported to be producing over {{Convert|1000|bhp|kW PS|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite news |title=Mansell after Grand Prix mark |date=3 November 1985 |newspaper=Rome News-Tribune |page=15B |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4h1NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1280,421147&dq=ayrton+senna&hl=en |access-date=1 November 2020|archive-date=18 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218144937/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4h1NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1280%2C421147&dq=ayrton%20senna&hl=en|url-status=live}}

File:Senna Brands 1986.jpg at the 1986 British Grand Prix]]

De Angelis was replaced at Lotus by Scotland's Johnny Dumfries after Senna vetoed Derek Warwick from joining the team, saying that Lotus could not run competitive cars for two top drivers at the same time. Senna allegedly pushed for his former flatmate and fellow Brazilian Maurício Gugelmin to join the team as a pure number two driver, but the team's major sponsor John Player & Sons (JPS) insisted on a British driver, which led to the signing of Dumfries. Senna later admitted "It was bad, bad. Until then I had a good relationship with Derek."{{sfnp|Hilton|2004|p=170}} Senna started the season well, coming second in Brazil behind the Williams-Honda of fellow countryman Nelson Piquet, and winning the Spanish Grand Prix by just 0.014s from Piquet's teammate Nigel Mansell in one of the closest finishes in Formula One history to find himself leading the World Championship after two races.{{sfnp|Hilton|2004|p=428}} Although the 98T was like the 97T which came before it, a quick car with superiority on tight, bumpy circuits but plagued with poor reliability, particularly in the second half of the season it saw him drift behind the Williams pairing of Mansell and Piquet, as well as defending and eventual champion Alain Prost. Nonetheless, Senna was once more the top qualifier with eight poles, with a further six podium finishes included another win at the Detroit Grand Prix, thus finishing the season fourth in the driver's standings again, with a total of 55 points. The 1986 Formula One cars were the most powerful cars in history, with Senna's 98T producing over {{Convert|1300|bhp|kW PS|0|abbr=on}} in qualifying and {{Convert|850|bhp|kW PS|0|abbr=on}} in the race.{{cite web|title=Ayrton Senna, Lotus 98T|url=http://www.thomsonstudio.com/node/62|publisher=Thomson Studio|access-date=17 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232258/http://www.thomsonstudio.com/node/62|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}

After winning the Detroit Grand Prix from Frenchmen Prost and Jacques Laffite⁠{{tsp}}{{mdash}}{{tsp}}which took place one day after Brazil was eliminated from the 1986 FIFA World Cup by France⁠{{tsp}}{{mdash}}{{tsp}}Senna asked a trackside supporter for the Brazilian flag and he drove one lap waving it. Thereafter, he repeated this ritual every time he won a race. During an interview on American television, he used English curse words to express his frustration at having to go into the pits earlier than expected due to a deflating rear tire. Senna also had a brief foray into rallying when he was invited by British magazine Cars & Car Conversions to try out a Vauxhall Nova, an MG Metro 6R4, a Ford Sierra RS Cosworth and a Ford Escort on a stretch of land closed to the public.{{cite web |url=http://www.wrc.com/news/features-archive/senna-%A1piloto-de-rallye/?fid=14986|title=Senna: The rally driver!|publisher=wrc.com|date=8 July 2011|access-date=30 August 2012|archive-date=17 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017043910/https://www.wrc.com/news/features-archive/senna-%EF%BF%BDpiloto-de-rallye/?fid=14986|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://senna.com/en/piloto/provas-especiais/o-dia-em-que-ayrton-senna-testou-carros-de-rali-na-europa/ |title=The day Ayrton Senna tested rally cars in Europe|publisher=AyrtonSenna.com|access-date=June 22, 2023|archive-date=21 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621163515/https://senna.com/en/piloto/provas-especiais/o-dia-em-que-ayrton-senna-testou-carros-de-rali-na-europa/|url-status=live}}

File:Lotus 99T front-left 2012 Autosport International.jpg raced by Senna in {{F1|1987}}]]

Team Lotus had a new engine deal in 1987, running the same turbocharged Honda V6 engines as Williams had used to win the previous year's Constructors' Championship, and with them came a new teammate, 34-year-old Japanese driver, Satoru Nakajima, who was a test driver employed directly by Honda. The team guaranteed Senna contractually preferential treatment over Nakajima in the allocation of equipment.{{cite web |author=Fábio Seixas |title=O contrato de Senna em 1987 |url=http://fabioseixas.blogfolha.uol.com.br/2013/07/10/o-contrato-de-senna-em-1987/ |access-date=13 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206163307/https://fabioseixas.blogfolha.uol.com.br/2013/07/10/o-contrato-de-senna-em-1987/ |archive-date=6 February 2020 |work=Folha de S.Paulo |date=10 July 2013 |language=pt}} Senna started the season with mixed fortunes: a podium at the San Marino Grand Prix was tempered by controversy at the following race at Spa-Francorchamps, where he collided with Mansell, and afterward in the pits an irate Mansell grabbed Senna by the throat and had to be restrained by Lotus mechanics.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing-testy-times-for-senna-and-schumacher-1533774.html |location=London |work=The Independent |title=Motor Racing: Testy times for Senna and Schumacher |date=17 July 1992 |access-date=19 September 2017 |archive-date=2 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502095221/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing-testy-times-for-senna-and-schumacher-1533774.html |url-status=live}}{{sfnp|Hilton|2004|p=432}} Senna then won two races in a row, which helped him take the lead in the World Championship: the ensuing Monaco Grand Prix (the first of his record six victories at the Principality) and the Detroit Grand Prix, his second victory in two years at the angular Michigan street circuit,{{cite magazine |last=Jones F.|first=Robert|title=Street Smart in Motown |magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=29 June 1987 |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1066128/2/index.htm|access-date=13 October 2012|archive-date=22 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322045806/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1066128/2/index.htm|url-status=dead}} and the first ever for an active suspension Formula One car.{{cite web |url=http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2007/05/17/banned-active-suspension |title=Banned! Active suspension |last=Collantine |first=Keith |date=17 May 2007 |publisher=F1 Fanatic |access-date=4 June 2014 |archive-date=19 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919071015/http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2007/05/17/banned-active-suspension/ |url-status=live}}

As the championship progressed, it became evident that the Williams cars had the advantage over the rest of the field, the gap between the Honda-engined teams made most obvious at the British Grand Prix, where Mansell and Piquet in the superior Williams cars lapped the Lotuses of Senna and Nakajima who finished 3rd and 4th respectively. Senna became dissatisfied with his chances at Lotus and at Monza it was announced that he would be joining McLaren for 1988.{{sfnp|Hilton|2004|p=186}} Senna was fined $15,000 for punching a corner marshal after they refused to push his stalled car in Mexico then finished the season strongly, coming second in the final two races in Japan and Australia; post-race scrutineering at the final race found the brake ducts of his Lotus to be wider than permitted by the rules and he was disqualified, bringing his last and most successful season with Lotus to a sour end.{{sfnp|Hilton|2004|p=188}} Senna was classified third in the final standings, with 57 points, six podium finishes and only one pole position. This season marked a turning point in Senna's career as, throughout the year, he built a deep relationship with Honda, which paid big dividends, as McLaren had secured Williams's supply of Honda's V6 turbo engines for 1988.{{cite web |url=http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/eng-honda.html |title=Engines: Honda Motor Company |publisher=grandprix.com |access-date=22 April 2014 |archive-date=3 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503051705/https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/eng-honda.html |url-status=live}}

File:Senna 1988.jpg.]]

In 1988, due to the relationship he had built up with Honda throughout the 1987 season with Lotus, and with the approval of McLaren's number-one driver and then-double world champion, Alain Prost, Senna joined the McLaren team.{{cite magazine| last=Roebuck|first= Nigel |date=1 October 1998|url=http://www.prostfan.com/senna2.htm |title=Ayrton Senna by Alain Prost |magazine=Motor Sport|access-date=11 February 2024 |archive-date=28 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828124700/http://www.prostfan.com/senna2.htm |url-status=live|via=ProstFan.com }} The foundation for a fierce competition between Senna and Prost was laid, culminating in a number of dramatic race incidents between the two over the next five years.{{sfnp|Hughes|Arron|2003|p=340}} The experienced pair also quickly realized, despite their personal rivalry, they had to work together, especially in testing, to keep ahead of their main opposition from Ferrari, Williams, Benetton, and Lotus.

File:Honda RA168E engine rear Honda Collection Hall.jpg

One notable incident of the year was at the Monaco Grand Prix, where Senna out-qualified Prost by 1.4 seconds and led for most of the race before crashing on lap 67.{{cite news |last=McGowan|first=Tom|title=The fast and the furious: Ayrton Senna's greatest F1 moments |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/motorsport/05/06/motorsport.f1.senna.greatest/index.html|publisher=CNN|date=25 May 2011|access-date=13 October 2012|archive-date=6 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206163239/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/motorsport/05/06/motorsport.f1.senna.greatest/index.html|url-status=live}} Instead of returning to the pit lane, Senna was so distressed by his mistake that he went back to his apartment and did not contact the team until he walked into the pit garage as they were packing up later that night. After team manager Jo Ramirez called him through his Monaco apartment's cleaner hours after he had crashed, Senna was still devastated by his own mistake. As the television cameras had not captured his crash, team boss Ron Dennis did not know what had caused his DNF until then, although Prost speculated that judging from the tyre marks, it appeared as though Senna had clipped the inside barrier at Portier, which pitched him into the outside guard rail.

At the Portuguese Grand Prix, Prost made a slightly faster start than Senna who, as he would a number of times, dived into the fast first corner ahead. Prost responded and went to pass Senna at the end of the first lap. Senna swerved to block Prost, forcing the Frenchman to nearly run into the pit wall at {{convert|290|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. Prost kept his foot down and soon edged Senna into the first corner and started pulling away. Prost, normally a calm individual, was angered by Senna's manoeuvre, and the Brazilian got away with a warning from the FIA. At the post-race team debrief, Prost voiced his anger at the move which prompted Senna to apologize to Prost for the incident.

Ultimately, the pair won 15 of 16 races in the dominant McLaren MP4/4 in 1988 with Senna coming out on top, winning his first Formula One world championship title by taking eight wins to Prost's seven. Although Prost scored more points over the season, three of his second places were dropped, as only the eleven-best scores counted, meaning that Senna bested Prost by three points.{{sfnp|Jones|1999|pp=221–222}} During the season, Senna rewrote the record books. His eight wins beat the old record of seven jointly held by Jim Clark ({{f1|1963}}) and Prost (1984). His 13 pole positions also beat the record of nine held by Nelson Piquet (1984).{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

File:Senna and Prost on the podium, Montreal 1988 (Cropped).jpg. The race was won by Senna.]]

The biggest incident of the year happened at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. With two laps remaining, Senna held a five-second lead over the Ferraris of Gerhard Berger and Michele Alboreto, who were closing in on the McLaren MP4/4 (Prost had earlier retired with a badly misfiring engine). Going into the Rettifilo chicane, Senna closed on the Williams FW12 of Jean-Louis Schlesser (standing in for the unwell Nigel Mansell). Schlesser steered wide, attempting to give Senna room to lap him, losing then regaining control to avoid going into the sand trap, and the two collided; Senna's car was beached on top of a curb and had stalled. Ferrari went on to finish 1–2, the first in an Italian Grand Prix since the death of the team's founder Enzo Ferrari. This proved to be the only race McLaren did not win in 1988.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

In {{F1|1989}}, the rivalry between Senna and Prost intensified into numerous battles on the track and a psychological war off it.{{sfnp|Hilton|2004|p={{Page needed|date=April 2023}}}}{{Page needed|date=April 2023}} Some controversy also arose after the French GP press conference when Ron Dennis declared that they found consistent differences between the Honda engines from Prost and Senna, to the detriment of Prost.{{cite news |title=Honda power casts doubts over Senna|newspaper=The Age|page=27 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19890714&id=hclUAAAAIBAJ&pg=4917%2C2115752|access-date=1 November 2020|archive-date=1 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201123447/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19890714&id=hclUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aZEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4917%2C2115752|url-status=live}} Tension and mistrust between the two drivers increased when Senna overtook Prost at the restart of the San Marino Grand Prix, a move which Prost claimed violated a pre-race agreement (Senna denied the existence of any agreement, although Prost's story was backed up by John Hogan of the team's major sponsor, Marlboro). A discussion between the two drivers and Dennis during a test session at the Pembrey circuit in Wales served to effectively confirm Senna and Prost's personal animosity to Dennis and the team.

Senna took an early lead in the championship with victories in San Marino, Monaco, and Mexico. Senna also led every lap of those races, a feat unequalled until Sebastian Vettel replicated it in {{f1|2012}}.{{cite news |last=Tremayne |first=David |date=29 October 2012 |title=Sebastian Vettel wins Ayrton Senna-style to extend title advantage |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/sebastian-vettel-wins-ayrton-sennastyle-to-extend-title-advantage-8229982.html|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=29 October 2012|location=London|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925225135/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/sebastian-vettel-wins-ayrton-sennastyle-to-extend-title-advantage-8229982.html|url-status=live}} Senna also managed to win in Germany, Belgium, and Spain. Unreliability in four consecutive races in Phoenix, Canada, France, and Britain, and further unreliability in Italy, together with collisions in Brazil and Portugal, swung the title in Prost's favour.{{cite web|title=Hall of Fame – Ayrton Senna 1989–1994 |url=http://marshallgp.com/2011/10/18/hall-of-fame-ayrton-senna-1989-1994/|publisher=Marshall GP|access-date=18 October 2011|url-status=dead |archive-date=24 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324110920/http://marshallgp.com/2011/10/18/hall-of-fame-ayrton-senna-1989-1994/}}

File:Mclaren mp4 5.jpg in {{F1|1989}}]]

Prost took the 1989 world title after a collision with Senna at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan, the penultimate race of the season which Senna needed to win to remain in contention for the title. Prost had managed to leave the grid faster than Senna by removing the gurney flap from his car, which was unbeknownst to Senna. This reduction in aerodynamic downforce made Prost's car faster on the straights, but slower through corners—a clever choice to make it even harder for Senna to pass on a circuit already difficult on which to pass. On lap 46, Senna had finally come next to Prost and attempted a pass on the inside at the tight last chicane. Prost turned right into the upcoming corner, cutting Senna off and tangling wheels with him. The collision caused both McLarens to slide to a standstill into the escape road ahead. Prost abandoned the race at that point, whereas Senna urged marshals for a push-start, which he received, then proceeding with the race after a pit stop to replace the damaged nose on his car. He took the lead from the Benetton of Alessandro Nannini and went on to claim victory, only to be disqualified following a stewards meeting after the race. Senna was disqualified for cutting the chicane after the collision with Prost, and for crossing into the pit lane entry which was not part of the track.{{cite news |title=Drama in Suzuka: Senna disqualified, Prost 'wins' world title |newspaper=New Straits Times |page=28 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19891023&id=G1pPAAAAIBAJ&pg=6594,2083754 |access-date=1 November 2020|archive-date=18 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218145117/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19891023&id=G1pPAAAAIBAJ&pg=6594,2083754 |url-status=live}}{{sfnp|Jones|1999|pp=227–228}}

A large fine and temporary suspension of his FIA Super License followed in the winter of 1989, and an irate Senna engaged in public criticism of the FIA and its then-president, Jean-Marie Balestre, whom he blamed for his disqualification in Japan. Senna claimed that Balestre had forced the race stewards to disqualify him so his fellow Frenchman Prost could win the championship, though the stewards of the meeting denied that Balestre forced their decision, claiming that he was not present when the decision was made.{{cite web |url=http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft00018.html |title=F1 – Grandprix.com > Features > News Feature > McLaren versus Jean-Marie Balestre |publisher=Grandprix.com |date=1 December 1989 |access-date=2 October 2010 |archive-date=17 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117111932/http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft00018.html |url-status=dead }} Senna finished the season second with six wins and one second place.

File:McLaren MP4-5B 2009 Japan.jpg raced by Senna in {{F1|1990}}. With it, he won his second world championship.]]

In 1990, Prost left McLaren for Ferrari, burning bridges on his way out.{{cite news|title=I'm Leaving McLaren says Prost|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19860809&id=JNRHAAAAIBAJ&pg=6633,2260406|newspaper=New Straits Times|date=9 August 1989|page=18|access-date=1 November 2020|archive-date=18 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218145108/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19860809&id=JNRHAAAAIBAJ&pg=6633,2260406|url-status=live}} He was replaced by the Austrian Gerhard Berger, who became Senna's close friend.

Senna took a commanding lead in the championship with six wins, two second-places, and three thirds. Among his victories were the opening round on the wide streets of Phoenix, in which he diced for the lead for several laps with Jean Alesi's Tyrrell before coming out on top, and in Germany, where he fought Benetton driver Alessandro Nannini throughout the race for the win. However, Prost mounted a fierce challenge and scored five wins that season, including a crucial victory in Spain where he and teammate Nigel Mansell finished 1–2 for the Scuderia. Senna had gone out with a damaged radiator, and the gap between Senna and Prost was now reduced to nine points with two races left.{{cite web |title=1990 – Senna's Revenge |url=http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/f1-information/seasons/1990-formula-one-season-history-sennas-revenge/|publisher=F1 Fanatic |access-date=17 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924050643/http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/f1-information/seasons/1990-formula-one-season-history-sennas-revenge/|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=dead}}

At the penultimate round of the championship in Japan, where Senna and Prost collided the previous year, Senna took pole ahead of Prost. Before qualifying, Senna had sought assurances from the organisers to move pole position left onto the clean side of the racetrack, where the racing line was. He later claimed that this agreement was not honored, possibly due to Balestre's interference.{{sfnp|Ménard|Vassal|2003|p=107}} In addition, as revealed by journalist Maurice Hamilton, the FIA had warned that crossing the yellow line of the pit exit on the right to better position oneself at the first corner would not have been appropriate, further infuriating Senna.

At the beginning of the race, Prost pulled ahead of Senna, who immediately tried to repass Prost at the first corner. While Prost turned in, Senna kept his foot on the accelerator and the cars collided at 270 km/h (170 mph) and went off the track. Prost was out of the race, automatically making Senna world champion.{{sfnp|Ménard|Vassal|2003|pp=106–107}}{{cite web |url=http://www.prostfan.com/senna2.htm |title=Ayrton Senna at Suzuka revisited |publisher=Motorsport magazine |access-date=18 November 2013 |archive-date=28 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828124700/http://www.prostfan.com/senna2.htm |url-status=live }} Prost believed that Senna's actions were intentional, as (based on Honda telemetry) Senna continued speeding up as the two went into the corner.{{Cite web |last=Schuler |first=Oskar |date=September 2004 |title=Suzuka Special 2004 - Emails to webmaster |url=https://www.prostfan.com/hk/specials/suzuka3-4.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208023105/https://www.prostfan.com/hk/specials/suzuka3-4.htm |archive-date=8 February 2024 |access-date=8 February 2024 |website=Alain Prost Grand Prix Homepage – Prostfan.com}} Prost-biased review and discussion of the incident. He added that he considered retiring from the sport after the incident.{{Cite web |last=Collantine |first=Keith |date=21 October 2010 |title=Senna clinches second world championship by taking Prost out |url=https://www.racefans.net/2010/10/21/20-years-since-senna-took-out-prost-at-suzuka-1990-japanese-gp-flashback/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925092059/https://www.racefans.net/2010/10/21/20-years-since-senna-took-out-prost-at-suzuka-1990-japanese-gp-flashback/ |archive-date=25 September 2023 |access-date=8 February 2024 |website=RaceFans}} However, Senna initially denied that he intentionally wrecked Prost. When pundit and former champion Jackie Stewart confronted him about his actions and brought up his history of on-track accidents and collisions, Senna feigned outrage, replying that "if you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver."{{cite video|author=@Senna Channel |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgSe1CUa3SA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/CgSe1CUa3SA |archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=Ayrton Senna's Famous interview with Jackie Stewart |via=YouTube |date=21 September 2013 |access-date=11 February 2024}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite web |date=3 March 2015 |title=Senna's Famous interview with Sir Jackie Stewart |website=Ayrton-Senna-DaSilva.com |url=https://www.ayrton-senna-dasilva.com/sennas-famous-interview-with-sir-jackie-stewart/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929140634/https://www.ayrton-senna-dasilva.com/sennas-famous-interview-with-sir-jackie-stewart/ |archive-date=29 September 2023 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Collantine |first=Keith |date=20 November 2015 |title='If you no longer go for a gap which exists you are no longer a racing driver' |website=RaceFans |url=https://www.racefans.net/2015/11/20/if-you-no-longer-go-for-a-gap-which-exists-you-are-no-longer-a-racing-driver/ |access-date=8 February 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230808175625/https://www.racefans.net/2015/11/20/if-you-no-longer-go-for-a-gap-which-exists-you-are-no-longer-a-racing-driver/ |archive-date=8 August 2023}}

One year later, Senna admitted that he intentionally wrecked Prost as payback for 1989,{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Brett |date=21 October 2020 |title=Why F1 legend fronted Aussie after 'disgusting' accident |url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/motorsport/ayrton-senna-collision-alain-prost-1990-japanese-grand-prix-david-brabham-reflects-exclusive/d004509e-e45e-494f-b2ce-e484548fbd55 |url-status=live |access-date=8 February 2024 |archive-date=24 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324094858/https://wwos.nine.com.au/motorsport/ayrton-senna-collision-alain-prost-1990-japanese-grand-prix-david-brabham-reflects-exclusive/d004509e-e45e-494f-b2ce-e484548fbd55 |website=Nine Wide World of Sports }}{{Cite web |last=Tremayne |first=David |date=2014-07-07 |title=Storms over Suzuka |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/december-1993/10/storms-over-suzuka/ |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=Motor Sport Magazine |url-status=live |archive-date=9 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709172106/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/december-1993/10/storms-over-suzuka/}} as well as his anger over the FIA's decision to disqualify him in 1989 and its pole position ruling in 1990. He said it was not how he wanted it to be, but it was how it had to be.{{Cite web |last=Tremayne |first=David |date=7 July 2014 |title=The other side of Senna — his rage at Prost and Suzuka 1990 |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/december-1991/6/the-other-side-of-senna/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207210511/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/december-1991/6/the-other-side-of-senna/ |archive-date=7 February 2024 |access-date=8 February 2024 |website=Motor Sport Magazine}} He later apologized to Stewart for his remarks in 1989, telling him that "God won't allow me to live this lie."

File:Ayrton Senna McLaren MP4-6 1991 United States.jpg with the new Honda V12-powered McLaren MP4/6.]]

In {{f1|1991}}, Senna became the youngest ever three-time world champion, taking seven wins and increasing his pole position record to 60 from 127 events. 1991 was a difficult season for Senna, who publicly questioned the new Honda V12 engine's competitiveness, suggesting that it was weaker than the last year's V10.{{cite book |last1=Codling |first1=Stuart |title=Art of the Formula 1 Race Car |last2=Mann |first2=James |last3=Windsor |first3=Peter |last4=Murray |first4=Gordon |publisher=Motorbooks |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-7603-3731-8 |page=177}} Prost's Ferrari suffered a downturn in performance and was not competitive, but Nigel Mansell, now with Williams, was driving the Adrian Newey designed Williams-Renault.

Senna won the first four races in Phoenix, Brazil, Imola, and Monaco as his rivals struggled to match his pace and reliability. Mansell scored only six points by the time Senna had 40 points.{{Cn|date=February 2025}} At the Spanish Grand Prix, Senna and Mansell went wheel-to-wheel with only centimetres to spare, at over 320 km/h (200 mph) down the main straight, a race which the Briton eventually won.

Senna also got into several accidents and mishaps, including a jet-skiing accident before the Mexican Grand Prix; a crash in qualifying at that race at the fastest corner on the track;{{cite news|title=Senna returns to the front of the pack|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vYJUAAAAIBAJ&pg=5472,2118430&dq=ayrton+senna+mexico&hl=en|newspaper=New Straits Times|date=6 July 1991|page=47|access-date=1 November 2020|archive-date=18 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218145221/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vYJUAAAAIBAJ&pg=5472,2118430&dq=ayrton+senna+mexico&hl=en|url-status=live}} a retirement on the final lap of the British Grand Prix (Mansell eventually gave Senna a ride back to the pits during his victory lap); a testing accident at Hockenheim that sent Senna's car 15 feet into the air and forced him to spend the night in the hospital; and a retirement at the German Grand Prix after running out of fuel.{{Cn|date=February 2025}}

To save the season, Senna demanded additional engine upgrades from Honda. These modifications, including modifications introduced at Hungary and variable inlet trumpets introduced at Belgium enabled him to make a late-season push. He won three more races to pull away from Mansell. Once again, Senna clinched the title in Japan when Mansell (who needed to win) went off at the first corner while running third and beached his Williams in the gravel trap. Senna finished second, handing the victory to teammate Berger at the last corner as a thank-you gesture for his support over the season.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=o_ROAAAAIBAJ&pg=5769,2993516&dq=ayrton+senna&hl=en |title=Senna gives up win for driver's title |newspaper=Boca Raton News |date=21 October 1991 |page=11 |access-date=1 November 2020 |archive-date=18 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218145222/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=o_ROAAAAIBAJ&pg=5769,2993516&dq=ayrton+senna&hl=en |url-status=live}}

At the end of the season, Senna won his third consecutive Autosport International Racing Driver Award. At that year's FISA gala dinner, he gave Balestre a helmet because of the sincere atmosphere and as an insulting psychological gesture.{{cite magazine|title=EXCLUSIVE: Watch Ayrton Senna at the 1991 AUTOSPORT Awards|magazine=Autosport|date=31 October 2011 |url=http://plus.autosport.com/free/feature/3941/exclusive-watch-ayrton-senna-at-the-1991-autosport-awards/|access-date=14 November 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084703/http://plus.autosport.com/free/feature/3941/exclusive-watch-ayrton-senna-at-the-1991-autosport-awards/|url-status=live}}

File:Ayrton Senna 1992 Monaco.jpg in his McLaren MP4/7A.]]

Senna considered moving to Williams for the 1992 season, but Honda's CEO, Nobuhiko Kawamoto, personally requested that he remain at McLaren-Honda, which Senna did out of a sense of loyalty. In addition to Alain Prost's recommendation, Honda had played an important part in bringing Senna with them to McLaren.Ernesto Rodrigues, Ayrton: The Hero Revealed (1994){{Page needed|date=April 2023}}

In 1992, Williams's all-conquering FW14B car dominated the season.{{sfnp|Ménard|Vassal|2003|pp=129–130}} It boasted aerodynamic-enhancing active suspension and a powerful Renault V10 engine, which was now more powerful than Honda's. By contrast, the McLaren MP4/7A was beset by production delays and did not debut until round three. The team struggled to catch up to Williams' technological advantage, building a semi-automatic gearbox for the first time and trialing an active suspension system. The new car suffered from reliability issues and was unpredictable in fast corners.{{sfnp|Ménard|Vassal|2003|pp=128–129}} Honda left Formula One at the end of the season.{{cite web |date=4 October 2011 |title=F1 Biography: Senna Gets Penske Test |url=http://www.formula1blog.com/f1-biography/f1-biography-senna-gets-penske-test/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109162325/http://www.formula1blog.com/f1-biography/f1-biography-senna-gets-penske-test/ |archive-date=9 November 2014 |access-date=9 November 2014 |publisher=f1b}}File:Senna 1992 Monaco cropped.jpg

Senna won three races (Monaco, Hungary, and Italy) and finished fourth overall in the championship, behind the Williams duo of Mansell and Riccardo Patrese, and Benetton's Michael Schumacher.{{sfnp|Jones|1999|pp=253, 257}}{{sfnp|Collings|Edworthy|2002|pp=244–247}} During this time, relations between Senna and Schumacher grew testy. At the Brazilian Grand Prix, Schumacher accused Senna of "playing around" while attempting to overtake Senna, who had a problem with his engine, a fact that Schumacher was apparently unaware of at the time. At the French Grand Prix, Schumacher collided with Senna, resulting in Senna's retirement. Senna later confronted Schumacher, who admitted responsibility for the accident. At a test session for the German Grand Prix, Senna and Schumacher had a confrontation in the pits, with Senna grabbing Schumacher by the collar and accusing him of endangering him by blocking him on the track.{{cite news |date=17 July 1992 |title=Motor Racing: Testy times for Senna and Schumacher |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing-testy-times-for-senna-and-schumacher-1533774.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502095221/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing-testy-times-for-senna-and-schumacher-1533774.html |archive-date=2 May 2020 |access-date=14 October 2012 |newspaper=The Independent |location=London}}

Senna grew increasingly worried about driver safety during the season. At round two in Mexico, he suffered a major crash during practice and temporarily wore a neck brace before the next day's race. Various drivers, including Senna, criticized the poor condition of the circuit.{{Cn|date=February 2025}} During qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, French driver Érik Comas crashed heavily and Senna was the first to arrive at the scene. Senna could hear that the stricken car's engine was revving at max RPM and could blow at any moment. Disregarding his own safety, he exited his car and ran across the track to help the Frenchman. His actions were applauded and seemed to soften his hard-nosed image.{{Cn|date=February 2025}}

{{See also|Prost–Senna rivalry#Williams driver controversy}}

File:AyrtonSennaAtHockheimGP1993-2.jpgfrom the back of the field to fourth at the 1993 German Grand Prix.]]

A free agent for {{f1|1993}}, Senna offered to drive for Williams for free. However, Alain Prost, who still had ill will against his former teammate, had already joined the team conditional on not being paired with Senna.{{sfnp|Ménard|Vassal|2003|p=130}} Senna publicly accused Prost of cowardice,{{cite web |date=5 December 2011 |title=Ayrton Senna Calls Prost A Coward |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFZKkK6odgY |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218163814/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFZKkK6odgY&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=18 February 2013 |access-date=10 February 2022 |website=YouTube}} although the racing press noted that in {{F1|1986}}, Senna had done the same thing to Derek Warwick.{{sfnp|Ménard|Vassal|2003|pp=129–132}}{{sfnp|Collings|Edworthy|2002|pp=239, 250}} Senna declined a drive from Ferrari, which eventually went to teammate Gerhard Berger. He reluctantly re-signed with McLaren on a race-by-race basis, and reportedly received a salary of $1 million per race.{{cite news |title=Fangio: all-time great and gentleman |date=18 July 1995 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/fangio-alltime-great-and-gentleman-1592066.html|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=19 September 2017|archive-date=18 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118090833/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/fangio-alltime-great-and-gentleman-1592066.html |url-status=live}}{{sfnp|Collings|Edworthy|2002|p=250}}

Without Honda, McLaren was left with a customer supply of Ford engines, which were two specifications behind Benetton's Ford works engines{{cite encyclopedia |title=Constructors: McLaren International |encyclopedia=GP Encyclopedia |url=http://www.grandprix.com/ |access-date=30 May 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224135942/http://www.grandprix.com/ |archive-date=24 February 2011}} and 50-80 horsepower behind Renault.{{Cite web |last=Elson |first=James |date=2023-09-20 |title=Senna's stretched McLaren-Lamborghini: F1's greatest 'what-if?' |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/sennas-stretched-mclaren-lamborghini-f1s-greatest-what-if/ |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Motor Sport Magazine |language=en-GB}} However, Senna was heartened by the McLaren MP4/8,{{sfnp|Ménard|Vassal|2003|p=133}} which implemented technological upgrades, including an updated active suspension system.{{Cite web |title=MP4/8 |url=https://www.mclaren.com/racing/heritage/formula-1/cars/1993-formula-1-mclaren-mp4-8/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=www.mclaren.com |language=en-GB}} Senna asked to switch to the Chrysler-backed Lamborghini V12 engine in midseason, but Dennis stuck with Ford for the rest of the season after Ford delivered an upgrade at round 11 in Hungary.File:Senna 1993 European GP.jpg is considered one of the best drives of his career.]]Despite Williams' superiority, Senna won three of the first six races.{{sfnp|Ménard|Vassal|2003|pp=134–135}} He finished second at the season opener in Kyalami.{{cite encyclopedia |title=Grand Prix Results: South African GP, 1993|encyclopedia=GP Encyclopedia|url=http://www.grandprix.com/|access-date=30 May 2007|archive-date=24 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224135942/http://www.grandprix.com/|url-status=live}} He won his second {{F1 GP|1993|Brazilian}} after Prost, who had been dominating the race, spun out in the rain; Senna's pass on Damon Hill for the lead was described as "the man at his most brilliant."{{Cite web |date=2014-07-07 |title=Cardinal Senna |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/may-1993/10/cardinal-senna/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Motor Sport Magazine |language=en-GB}} The next race, the European Grand Prix at Donington Park, has been described as one of the greatest races in Senna's career.{{sfnp|Collings|Edworthy|2002|p=250}} In fast-changing and rainy conditions—Prost's seven pit stops set a Formula One record{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-11-28 |title=2023 Formula 1: Records and milestones, more than 40 of them! |url=https://www.grandprix247.com/2023/11/28/2023-formula-1-records-and-milestones-more-than-40-of-them/ |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=GRANDPRIX247}}—Senna overtook four drivers on the first lap and eventually lapped all but second place.{{cite web|title=1993 European Grand Prix |url=http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1993/86/ |access-date=16 July 2011 |publisher=Formula 1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606050843/http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1993/86/ |archive-date=6 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}{{sfnp|Ménard|Vassal|2003|p=134}} He also won his record-breaking sixth win at round six in Monaco, breaking a tie with Graham Hill at five, after polesitter Prost was handed a ten-second stop-go penalty for jumping the start.{{Cite news |last=Spurgeon |first=Brad |date=1993-12-11 |title=So Hard on Prost, Racing Pulls a Punch for Senna |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/11/sports/IHT-so-hard-on-prost-racing-pulls-a-punch-for-senna.html |access-date=2024-10-14 |work=International Herald Tribune}}

After Monaco, Senna unexpectedly found himself on top of the drivers' standings. However, he was only five points ahead of Prost. The Frenchman promptly pulled away with four straight victories.{{Cite web |title=1993 Race Results |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/results/1993/races |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Formula One |language=en}} Senna's season was hampered by mechanical failures in Imola, Canada, Britain, Hungary, and Portugal. Prost took his fourth world championship, with Senna as runner-up.{{Cite web |title=1993 Driver Standings |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/results/1993/drivers |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Formula One |language=en}}File:Ayrton Senna at Interlagos 1993.jpgIn mid-October, Senna signed with Williams to replace the retiring Prost for 1994.{{Cite web |date=1993-10-11 |title=Senna signs with Williams |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/10/11/Senna-signs-with-Williams/9005750312000/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=UPI |language=en}} However, at the following race, the {{F1 GP|1993|Japanese}}, Senna got into a heated argument with Jordan's Eddie Irvine (a backmarker who had tried to block Senna from lapping him) and eventually tried to punch Irvine in the head.{{cite web |title=Do you remember… when Senna and Irvine came to blows at Suzuka |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/features/2015/9/do-you-remember_-when-senna-and-irvine-came-to-blows-at-suzuka.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230112045/https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/features/2015/9/do-you-remember_-when-senna-and-irvine-came-to-blows-at-suzuka.html |archive-date=30 December 2016 |access-date=23 September 2015 |publisher=Formula1 official site}} He also turned down Prost's suggestion of a conciliatory gesture.{{Cite web |title=Alain Prost vs. Ayrton Senna: The top 10 moments of F1's defining rivalry |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/prost-vs-senna-the-top-10-moments-of-f1s-defining-rivalry.HXTkvgrOpnaYJoanGiwGq |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Formula One |language=en}} After deliberations, the FIA limited Senna's punishment to a six-month suspended race ban (i.e., probation) for 1994, explaining that Irvine had provoked Senna on track and Senna had a "very positive attitude" with the tribunal.{{cite web |date=10 December 1993 |title=Motor Racing: Suspended sentence for Senna: Compromise reached over Brazilian ace |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing-suspended-sentence-for-senna-compromise-reached-over-brazilian-ace-1466628.html. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502233113/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing-suspended-sentence-for-senna-compromise-reached-over-brazilian-ace-1466628.html |archive-date=2 May 2020 |access-date=23 December 2019 |work=The Independent}} Senna's minimal punishment received some criticism, as the FIA had been threatening to ban Prost for four races for criticizing the FIA.

Senna took his 41st and last Formula One win at the {{F1 GP|1993|Australian}}. It was McLaren's 104th win as a constructor, putting it ahead of Ferrari in the all-time constructor wins standings.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=30 years ago: Senna stuns Adelaide to get last win |url=https://autoaction.com.au/2023/11/08/30-years-ago-senna-stuns-adelaide-to-get-last-win |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=AutoAction}} Senna surprised the Formula One community by pulling Prost onto the top step of the podium to celebrate the Frenchman's retirement.{{cite web |last=Guest |first=Spencer |date=2002 |title=Adelaide 1993 |website=Farzad F1 Gallery |url=http://www.farzadsf1gallery.com/features/adel93.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025173536/http://www.farzadsf1gallery.com/features/adel93.html |archive-date=25 October 2006 |access-date=8 February 2024}} Adelaide Grand Prix review featuring images of Senna and Prost on the podium.

File:Williams FW16 front-left 2017 Williams Conference Centre 1.jpg was the last Formula One car raced by Senna.]]

With Prost out of the picture, Senna joined Williams for {{F1|1994}}.{{cite web |last1=Lopes |first1=Rafael |last2=Murgel |first2=Leonardo |last3=Grünwald |first3=Alexander |title=Ayrton Senna: o período na Williams |url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/Esportes/Noticias/0,,MUL1105495-17078,00-AYRTON+SENNA+O+PERIODO+NA+WILLIAMS.html |publisher=Globo |date=1 May 2009 |access-date=21 October 2012|archive-date=1 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601144839/http://globoesporte.globo.com/Esportes/Noticias/0,,MUL1105495-17078,00-AYRTON+SENNA+O+PERIODO+NA+WILLIAMS.html |url-status=live}} He was reportedly paid a $20 million salary.{{cite magazine |last=Newman |first=Bruce |title=The Last Ride |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1005161/index.htm|magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=9 May 1994 |access-date=13 October 2012 |archive-date=23 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023061117/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1005161/index.htm |url-status=dead}} Although Williams remained the premier team in Formula One for several more years,{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Richard |date=2021-11-28 |title=Sir Frank Williams obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/nov/28/sir-frank-williams-obituary |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} it was particularly affected by the FIA's 1994 ban on electronic driver aids like active suspension, anti-lock brakes, traction control, and launch control.{{Cite web |date=2014-07-07 |title=1994 Brazilian Grand Prix race report: Against expectations |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/may-1994/10/1994-brazilian-grand-prix-race-report-against-expectations/ |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=Motor Sport Magazine |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Saunders |first=Nate |date=2020-05-01 |title=Ayrton Senna's F1 cars through the years |url=https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/29122003/ayrton-senna-f1-cars-years |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} Senna said that he had a "very negative feeling" about the FW16.{{cite journal |date=24 January 1994 |title=Senna Interview |journal=Autosport |publisher=Haymarket Consumer Media |volume=134 |issue=4 |page=28 |issn=0269-946X}} He added that "it's going to be a season with lots of accidents, and I'll risk saying that we'll be lucky if something really serious doesn't happen."{{cite web|title=Ayrton Senna 1960–1994: In his own words|publisher=ESPN |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/espn/sport/story/13315.html|access-date=21 March 2010|archive-date=10 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110050726/http://www.espn.co.uk/espn/sport/story/13315.html|url-status=live}} Before round three at Imola, Senna spoke with Ferrari's Luca Cordero di Montezemolo about potentially moving to the Scuderia.{{cite web |date=May 2014 |title=Ayrton Senna wanted to sign for Ferrari before his tragic death at Imola, reveals Luca di Montezemolo |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/10800400/Ayrton-Senna-wanted-to-sign-for-Ferrari-before-his-tragic-death-at-Imola-reveals-Luca-di-Montezemolo.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/10800400/Ayrton-Senna-wanted-to-sign-for-Ferrari-before-his-tragic-death-at-Imola-reveals-Luca-di-Montezemolo.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |access-date=1 May 2014 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}

Senna was particularly upset by rumors that Michael Schumacher's Benetton B194 was still secretly using the electronic driver aids. Following his retirement at the {{F1 GP|1994|Pacific}}, Senna stood near the first corner to watch the cars, hoping to detect evidence of cheating.{{cite web |title=Grand Prix Results: Pacific GP, 1994 |url=http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr550.html |work=GrandPrix.com |publisher=Inside F1 |access-date=2008-08-28| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905180229/http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr550.html| archive-date=5 September 2008 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Globetrotter: Rocking the boat |url=http://www.grandprix.com/gt/gt00044.html |first=Joe |last=Saward |author-link=Joe Saward |work=GrandPrix.com |publisher=Inside F1 |date=1994-08-11 |access-date=2008-08-28| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929033558/http://www.grandprix.com/gt/gt00044.html| archive-date=29 September 2008 |url-status=live}} According to teammate Damon Hill, Senna claimed that he heard "unusual noises from the engine" indicative of cheating.{{cite video |title=The Last Teammate (1994 San Marino Grand Prix's 20th Anniversary documentary) @ 8'25" |url=http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/f1/9293944/ |website=Sky Sports|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=3 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503185230/http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/f1/9293944/|url-status=live}}

Senna took pole at the first three races but retired from each of them. At Brazil, Schumacher took the race lead after passing Senna in the pits. Senna pushed hard to overtake Schumacher, but spun on lap 56, forcing a retirement. At the Pacific Grand Prix, Senna's race was ended by a multi-car accident at the first corner, where Mika Häkkinen hit him from behind and Nicola Larini subsequently T-boned him. Schumacher won both races, giving him a 20-point lead in the Drivers' Championship.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/photo_galleries/3636399.stm |work=BBC Sport |title=Senna retrospective |date=21 April 2004 |access-date=26 April 2010 |archive-date=2 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202051128/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/photo_galleries/3636399.stm |url-status=live }} Senna took pole again at Imola but fatally crashed during the race. Schumacher won his first Drivers' Championship and dedicated it to Senna.{{cite video|title=1994 Australian Grand Prix Press Conference with Michael Schumacher |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVX-kgy6oCQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/oVX-kgy6oCQ| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|publisher=FIA|date=13 November 1994|access-date=10 May 2015}}{{cbignore}}

{{Main|Death of Ayrton Senna}}

The 1994 San Marino Grand Prix was held on the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit located in Imola, Italy, between 28 April and 1 May 1994. The race was marked by a string of accidents suffered by Rubens Barrichello, Roland Ratzenberger, JJ Lehto, and Pedro Lamy, as well as Senna. Ratzenberger was killed by his crash, and Senna brought an Austrian flag with him for the race, which he presumably intended to raise in honor of Ratzenberger.{{cite web |last=Longer |first=Andrew |date=31 October 1994 |title=Ayrton Senna: The Last Hours |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/ayrton-senna-the-last-hours-hl30nd58kmj |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902185513/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ayrton-senna-the-last-hours-hl30nd58kmj |archive-date=2 September 2021 |access-date=2 September 2021 |work=The Times}} Senna was heavily disturbed by the crashes. On the morning of the race, Senna spoke with the now-retired Alain Prost about re-establishing the Grand Prix Drivers' Association to organise for driver safety. Senna confided to Prost that "I'm not optimistic at all about this race."{{Cite web |date=2014-07-07 |title=Prost on Senna: 'People don't know what beating me meant to him' |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/march-2008/54/prost-senna/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Motor Sport Magazine |language=en-GB}}

On lap 7, Senna fatally crashed at the high-speed Tamburello corner. He was airlifted to Bologna's Maggiore Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 18:40 CEST (16:40 GMT).{{cite web|last=Lorenzini |first=Tommaso |date=23 April 2014|publisher=Libero Quotidiano |url=http://www.liberoquotidiano.it/news/sfoglio/11599274/Ayrton-Senna--il-racconto-della.html |title=Ayrton Senna, il racconto della dottoressa: "Così mi morì in braccio"|access-date=12 December 2014|archive-date=28 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428123939/http://www.liberoquotidiano.it/news/sfoglio/11599274/Ayrton-Senna--il-racconto-della.html|url-status=live}} The official time of death under Italian law was 14:17 CEST (12:17 GMT), the time of the crash.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Dylan |date=22 April 2011 |title=The last 96 hours of Ayrton Senna |url=http://8w.forix.com/senna1994.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031101710/http://8w.forix.com/senna1994.html |archive-date=31 October 2012 |access-date=9 September 2012 |publisher=8wforix}} The hospital's head of emergency medicine, Dr. Maria Teresa Fiandri, stated that Senna sustained fatal skull fractures, brain injuries, and a ruptured temporal artery, any one of which would likely have killed him.{{sfnp|Hilton|1994|p=386}}{{cite web |date=25 February 2008 |title=The death of Ayrton Senna: His last 100 hours |url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/senna.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225170106/http://www.sportspromedia.com/senna.htm |archive-date=25 February 2008 |access-date=4 June 2011}} Senna's friend and Autosprint{{'}}s picture editor Angelo Orsi took photographs of Senna being treated on track, but out of respect, they have never been made officially public.

An analysis of the crash primarily focused on Senna's steering column, which broke during the crash. The night before the race, Senna asked for the steering wheel to be shortened.{{Cite news |last=Agnew |first=Paddy |date=1997-12-17 |title=Williams acquitted as Senna trial ends |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/williams-acquitted-as-senna-trial-ends-1.138353 |access-date=2025-02-11 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=1997-02-21 |title=F-1 execs on trial in death of Senna |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/02/21/f-1-execs-on-trial-in-death-of-senna/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}} There was no time to build a new steering column from scratch, so Williams welded together different parts to adjust the existing steering column.{{Cite news |last=Agnew |first=Paddy |date=1997-10-30 |title=Steering column did not break - Williams |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/steering-column-did-not-break-williams-1.121122 |access-date=2025-02-11 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}} Following the race, six defendants—three senior Williams employees, the Formula One race director, the race organiser, and the Imola track director—were charged with manslaughter in Italian courts.{{Cite web |date=1997-11-08 |title=Charges might be dropped for four men in Senna trial |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/11/08/charges-might-be-dropped-for-four-men-in-senna-trial/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}} The Williams defendants argued that the crash broke the steering column, while prosecutors argued that the column broke first and caused the crash. It was also charged that the Imola Circuit was in poor condition.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=1997-12-17 |title=Six Acquitted in Senna's Death |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/12/17/six-acquitted-in-sennas-death/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}

The defendants stood trial in 1997. Before the verdict, the prosecutor asked to drop the charges against everyone except Williams' Patrick Head and Adrian Newey, for whom he recommended suspended one-year sentences. Head and Newey were acquitted, and an appeals court upheld the acquittals in 1999.{{cite news |date=27 May 2005 |title=Top designers acquitted on Senna |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4587195.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151128051204/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4587195.stm |archive-date=28 November 2015 |access-date=23 May 2012 |work=BBC News}} However, the Supreme Court of Cassation ordered a retrial to clarify facts about the steering column breakage and other potential causes of the accident.{{Cite web |last=Lostia |first=Michele |date=2004-04-02 |title=Court Decision Focuses on Senna's Steering Column |url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/court-decision-focuses-on-sennas-steering-column-5065463/5065463/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=Autosport}} In 2005, a court found that the steering column was poorly modified and that its breakage on track caused Senna's accident.{{cite web |date=2007-04-13 |title=Senna, Head 'Responsabile' |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Motori/Formula1/Primo_Piano/2007/04_Aprile/13/senna.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102191037/http://www.gazzetta.it/Motori/Formula1/Primo_Piano/2007/04_Aprile/13/senna.shtml |archive-date=2 January 2014 |access-date=9 September 2010 |publisher=Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it-IT}} Newey was acquitted, as he was not responsible for the modifications. Head was found culpable, but was protected from prosecution by the statute of limitations. He appealed anyway to clear his name, but his appeal was rejected in 2007.

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| image1 = Ayrton Senna, Morumbi.jpg

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| caption2 = Senna's resting place at the Morumbi cemetery in São Paulo, with an inscription in Portuguese that reads "Nothing can separate me from the love of God"

}}{{Main|Death of Ayrton Senna#State funeral}}

Senna's body was flown back to Brazil on 4 May 1994. He lay in state at the Legislative Assembly building in São Paulo. His funeral took place the following day, 5 May. With over half a million visitors, it was the largest funeral procession in the city's history.{{cite news |last=Margolis |first=Mac |date=10 May 1994 |title=Death of Speeding Star Pains a Nation Looking for Heroes : Ayrton Senna's fatal crash shattered Brazil, fueling anger and sadness |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-10-wr-56073-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902185510/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-10-wr-56073-story.html |archive-date=2 September 2021 |access-date=2 September 2021 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}} The Brazilian government declared three days of national mourning.

Senna was buried in the Morumbi Cemetery in São Paulo.{{Cite web |date=17 Oct 2009 |title=Hamilton visits grave of F1 superstar Senna |url=https://www.crash.net/f1/news/153620/1/lewis-hamilton-visits-grave-of-f1-hero-senna |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010151000/https://www.crash.net/f1/news/153620/1/lewis-hamilton-visits-grave-of-f1-hero-senna |archive-date=10 October 2021 |access-date=17 Aug 2020 |website=Crash.net}} His grave bears the epitaph "Nada pode me separar do amor de Deus" (Romans 8:38–39, "Nothing can separate me from the love of God").{{cite web |title=Romans 8:38–39 |url=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%208:38-39&version=NIV; |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502234915/https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%208:38-39&version=NIV; |archive-date=2 May 2020 |access-date=24 June 2011 |work=Bible Gateway}}

For the next race at Monaco, the FIA decided to leave the first two grid positions empty and painted them with the colours of the Brazilian and the Austrian flags, to honour Senna and Ratzenberger.{{cite news |date=7 July 2014 |title=1994 Monaco Grand Prix: A weekend to be endured |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/june-1994/22/a-weekend-to-be-endured |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902185511/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/june-1994/22/a-weekend-to-be-endured |archive-date=2 September 2021 |access-date=2 September 2021 |work=Motorsport Magazine}} Throughout the rest of the 1994 season, Senna was commemorated in various ways. Damon Hill, along with Michael Schumacher, dedicated their individual success to Senna with Hill's victory in the Spanish Grand Prix and Schumacher's world-championship victory in the Australian Grand Prix.{{cite news |date=14 November 1994 |title=Mansell wins battle, Schumacher the war |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6ldPAAAAIBAJ&pg=4571,4500221&dq=san+marino+gp&hl=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326190358/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6ldPAAAAIBAJ&pg=4571,4500221&dq=san+marino+gp&hl=en |archive-date=26 March 2023 |access-date=1 November 2020 |newspaper=Toledo Blade |page=22}}{{cite news |date=31 May 1994 |title=Hill victory sparks Williams optimism |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ya4mAAAAIBAJ&pg=3755,4641199&dq=ayrton+senna&hl=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405204604/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ya4mAAAAIBAJ&pg=3755,4641199&dq=ayrton+senna&hl=en |archive-date=5 April 2023 |access-date=1 November 2020 |newspaper=New Straits Times |page=42}}

At Honda's Tokyo headquarters, so many floral tributes were received that they filled the large exhibition lobby, even though Honda no longer participated in Formula One.{{cite web|script-title=ja:アイルトン・セナの去った夜|url=http://www.honda.co.jp/collection-hall/episodes_old/motor/mp44/index.html |language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110711133916/http://www.honda.co.jp/collection-hall/episodes_old/motor/mp44/index.html |archive-date=11 July 2011}} Senna had a special relationship with company founder Soichiro Honda and was beloved in Japan, where he achieved a near-mythic status.{{cite web |title=Grand Prix Insider|date=18 November 2008 |publisher=P1MAG |url=http://grandprixinsider.wordpress.com/2008/11/18/monday-18/ |access-date=16 June 2012|archive-date=2 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502162802/https://grandprixinsider.wordpress.com/2008/11/18/monday-18/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Silverio|first=Ricky |date=2014-05-01|title=MOTORSPORT: Why Ayrton Senna is a Japanese hero|url=https://japanesenostalgiccar.com/motorsport-why-ayrton-senna-is-a-japanese-hero/|access-date=2021-02-10|website=Japanese Nostalgic Car|archive-date=25 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725013933/https://japanesenostalgiccar.com/motorsport-why-ayrton-senna-is-a-japanese-hero/|url-status=live}}

In July 1994, the Brazil national football team dedicated their World Cup victory to Senna, and collectively held a banner with their dedication on the field after defeating Italy in the final, which read Senna... Aceleramos juntos, o tetra é nosso! ({{lit|Senna... We speed together, the fourth title is ours!}}).{{cite web |date=7 June 2010 |title=World Cup history: 1994 |url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/article437858.ece/World-Cup-history--1994 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104021559/http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/article437858.ece/World-Cup-history--1994 |archive-date=4 November 2013 |access-date=13 September 2010 |publisher=Times LIVE}}{{cite web |date=17 March 2003 |title=FIFA World Cup USA '94 – Tournament Report |url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/technicaldevp/50/08/62/wc_94_tr_part1_272.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111220065927/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/technicaldevp/50/08/62/wc%5f94%5ftr%5fpart1%5f272.pdf |archive-date=20 December 2011 |access-date=13 September 2010 |publisher=FIFA |at=p. 23 (document page: 22) |quote=... while the proud and delighted Brazilians were unrolling a banner on the pitch dedicating their win to the late Formula 1 world champion Ayrton Senna, who died in Imola in May 1994 ...'}} Senna had met various members of the squad, including Ronaldo,{{cite web |date=21 March 2014 |title=Ronaldo publica foto antiga em homenagem a Ayrton Senna |url=http://caras.uol.com.br/tv/ronaldo-publica-foto-antiga-em-homenagem-ayrton-senna-aniversario-famosos |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722063541/http://caras.uol.com.br/tv/ronaldo-publica-foto-antiga-em-homenagem-ayrton-senna-aniversario-famosos |archive-date=22 July 2015 |access-date=15 May 2015}} as well as Leonardo Araújo, three months earlier in Paris, telling them "this is our year".{{cite web |date=3 May 2004 |title=Ayrton Senna |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-05/03/content_358748.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502071833/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-05/03/content_358748.htm |archive-date=2 May 2020 |access-date=1 May 2014 |publisher=Chinadaily.com.cn}}{{Better source needed|date=October 2021}}

File:Eröffnungsrennen 1984-05-12.jpg exhibition race to celebrate the opening of the GP-Strecke layout of the Nürburgring in 1984.]]

Senna did not participate in many other forms of motorsport once he reached Formula One. He took part in the 1984 Nürburgring Race of Champions, an exhibition race where all drivers competed in identical examples of the then-new Mercedes 190E 2.3–16 with minor race modifications. The race was held on the then newly-opened Nürburgring Grand Prix track, before the European Grand Prix. Notably, this race involved several past and present Formula One drivers, including Stirling Moss and past World Champions Jack Brabham, Denny Hulme, and Alan Jones, driving identical touring cars. Alain Prost started from pole position. Senna, who was a last-minute inclusion in the Mercedes race taking over from Emerson Fittipaldi, took the lead in the first corner of the first lap, winning the race ahead of Niki Lauda and Carlos Reutemann.{{cite web|url=http://wsrp.ic.cz/wsc1984.html#4 |title=FIA World Endurance Championship 1984 |publisher=wsrp.ic.cz |access-date=14 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061230194431/http://wsrp.ic.cz/wsc1984.html |archive-date=30 December 2006 |url-status=dead}} After the race, Senna was quoted as saying: "Now I know I can do it."{{sfnp|Hilton|2004|p=140}}

Senna took part in the Nürburgring round of the 1984 World Sportscar Championship, driving a Porsche 956 for New-Man Joest Racing, alongside Henri Pescarolo and Stefan Johansson. He finished in 8th place but impressed the team and his co-drivers. He took part in the Masters of Paris-Bercy event in 1993, an indoor all-star kart racing competition held on a temporary circuit at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy. The event notably hosted the final on-track duel between Senna and Prost.{{Cite web |last=Agarwal |first=Abhay |date=2020-04-10 |title=Last Battle of Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna Took Outside an F1 Track: Here's What Happened |url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/f1-news-last-battle-of-alain-prost-and-ayrton-senna-took-outside-an-f1-track-heres-what-happened/ |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=EssentiallySports |archive-date=5 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305230324/https://www.essentiallysports.com/f1-news-last-battle-of-alain-prost-and-ayrton-senna-took-outside-an-f1-track-heres-what-happened/ |url-status=live }}

Senna secured an IndyCar testing session with the support of compatriot and Penske driver, Emerson Fittipaldi. In December 1992, Senna visited Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Arizona, near Phoenix in the United States,{{sfnp|Ménard|Vassal|2003|p=132}} in order to test a 1992 Penske PC-21 CART IndyCar.{{cite web|title=Penske test in Indy|publisher=Ayrton Senna Official |url=http://www.ayrtonsenna.com.br/en/historias/dentro-das-pistas/provas-especiais/o-teste-com-a-penske-na-formula-indy/ |access-date=9 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225145543/http://www.ayrtonsenna.com.br/en/historias/dentro-das-pistas/provas-especiais/o-teste-com-a-penske-na-formula-indy|archive-date=25 December 2014}} Unlike the more advanced Formula One cars, this IndyCar was powered by a turbo Chevrolet-Ilmor V8, had a traditional transmission with clutch pedal and iron brakes, and was markedly heavier due to its bigger physical size in comparison to a smaller Formula One car; IndyCar teams were run with significantly smaller budgets than Formula One teams and did not have to make their own cars. To familiarise himself, Senna initially ran 14 relatively slow laps before completing a further 10 laps on the same tyres and setting a best time of 49.09 seconds. By comparison, Fittipaldi had set a best time of 49.70 seconds, which he later improved to 48.5 seconds, only by using the new 1993 Penske PC-22 at his disposal during this test session.{{cite web |last=Fagnan |first=René |url=http://www.auto123.com/en/racing-news/penske-engineer-recalls-the-day-ayrton-senna-drove-an-indy-car?artid=147013|title=Penske engineer recalls the day Ayrton Senna drove an Indy Car|publisher=Auto123.com|date=27 August 2012|access-date=9 November 2014|archive-date=2 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502080857/https://www.auto123.com/en/racing-news/penske-engineer-recalls-the-day-ayrton-senna-drove-an-indy-car?artid=147013|url-status=live}}

In a 2018 interview, Fittipaldi revealed that Penske boss Roger Penske was ready to enter a third car for Senna to drive at the 1993 Indianapolis 500, which is one of the most prestigious and important races in the world and a race that defending champion Mansell (who had left Formula One for CART) was competing at. When McLaren boss Ron Dennis found out it was a very serious deal he promptly banned Senna from competing at Indianapolis.{{cite web|date=24 June 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dAf6f09ZmE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/1dAf6f09ZmE |archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=Beyond the Grid – Emerson Fittipaldi|publisher=Formula One|access-date=24 June 2020}}{{cbignore}}

File:Ayrton Senna with a Dog.jpg{{Main|Instituto Ayrton Senna}}

Senna was a devout Catholic, once saying: "Just because I believe in God, just because I have faith in God, it doesn't mean that I'm immune. It doesn't mean that I'm immortal."{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/manish-pandey/ayrton-senna_b_909096.html |title=Ayrton Senna: The Faith of the Man Who Could Drive on Water |website=HuffPost |date=1 August 2011 |first=Manish |last=Pandey |access-date=1 August 2011 |archive-date=1 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701210718/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/manish-pandey/ayrton-senna_b_909096.html |url-status=live }} He often read the Bible on long flights from São Paulo to Europe.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2323502/Spirit-of-Ayrton-Senna-is-Lewis-Hamiltons-spur.html|title=Spirit of Ayrton Senna is Lewis Hamilton's spur|work=The Daily Telegraph |first=Robert |last=Philip |date=17 October 2007 |access-date=27 July 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100713182200/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2323502/Spirit-of-Ayrton-Senna-is-Lewis-Hamiltons-spur.html |archive-date= 13 July 2010 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |agency=Reuters |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/racing/racing/f1/news/story?id=4565293 |title=Hamilton visits Senna's grave |publisher=ESPN |date=16 October 2009 |access-date=2 September 2021 |archive-date=2 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902185511/https://www.espn.co.uk/racing/racing/f1/news/story?id=4565293 |url-status=live }} According to his sister, Senna had sought strength from the Bible on the morning of his death: "On that final morning, he woke and opened his Bible and read a text that he would receive the greatest gift of all, which was God himself."

Senna secretly donated millions of U.S. dollars to help poor children.{{cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/championship/drivers/hall-of-fame/Ayrton_Senna.html |title=Hall of Fame – Ayrton Senna |publisher=Formula1.com |access-date=2018-05-28 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180504010851/https://www.formula1.com/en/championship/drivers/hall-of-fame/Ayrton_Senna.html |archive-date=2018-05-04 |url-status=live}} Shortly before his death, he created the framework for an organisation dedicated to Brazilian children, which later became the Instituto Ayrton Senna (IAS). The IAS has invested nearly US$80 million over a twelve-year period in social programs and actions in partnership with schools, government, NGOs, and the private sector, aimed at offering children and teenagers from low-income backgrounds the skills and opportunities they need to develop their full potential as persons, citizens, and future professionals.{{cite web |title=Instituto Ayrton Senna |url=http://senna.globo.com/institutoayrtonsenna/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009155058/http://senna.globo.com/institutoayrtonsenna/ |archive-date=9 October 2010 |access-date=2 October 2010 |publisher=Senna.globo.com}} The foundation is officially advised by Bernie Ecclestone, Alain Prost, and Gerhard Berger.

In a 1994 interview following Senna's death, Frank Williams said that "If you want a summary of Ayrton Senna ... he was actually a greater man out of the car than in it."{{Cite journal |last=Roebuck |first=Nigel |date=2020-06-15 |title=Autosport70: Senna, tragedy and the battle for Coulthard |url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/autosport70-senna-tragedy-and-the-battle-for-coulthard-4981919/4981919/ |journal=Autosport}}

Senna married his childhood friend Lilian de Vasconcelos Souza in 1981, but she had difficulty adapting to her husband's racing life in England and they divorced in 1982. Vasconcelos later said: "I was his second passion. His first passion was racing."{{cite web |author=Kleber Tomaz |date=22 December 2010 |title=G1 – Primeira mulher de Senna lamenta não aparecer em filme sobre piloto – notícias em São Paulo |url=http://g1.globo.com/sao-paulo/noticia/2010/12/primeira-mulher-de-senna-lamenta-nao-aparecer-em-filme-sobre-piloto.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219213705/http://g1.globo.com/sao-paulo/noticia/2010/12/primeira-mulher-de-senna-lamenta-nao-aparecer-em-filme-sobre-piloto.html |archive-date=19 February 2020 |access-date=1 May 2014 |publisher=G1.globo.com |language=pt}} Although Senna did not have much of an income early in his racing career, Senna insisted on supporting his wife with no help from his father out of a sense of pride.{{cite web |title=Ayrton, the Hero Revealed – a biography of the Brazilian pilot |url=http://www.v-brazil.com/culture/Brazilian-celebrities/ayrton-biography.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218002300/http://www.v-brazil.com/culture/Brazilian-celebrities/ayrton-biography.html |archive-date=18 February 2020 |access-date=16 June 2012 |publisher=V-Brazil}}

Senna's nephew Bruno also became a Formula One driver, competing from 2010 to 2012. Senna praised Bruno's talent, telling people in 1993 that "If you think I'm fast, just wait until you see my nephew Bruno."{{cite web |date=12 November 2009 |title=Bruno Senna – more than just a famous name? |url=http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2009/11/10214.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091115235850/http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2009/11/10214.html |archive-date=November 15, 2009 |access-date=2 October 2010 |publisher=Formula1.com}} Bruno temporarily quit racing to please his family after Senna's death.{{cite news |author=Miranda, Charles |date=25 April 2014 |title=The two decades since the death of Ayrton Senna have passed quickly, says the F1 legend's nephew |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/motor-sport/the-two-decades-since-the-death-of-ayrton-senna-have-passed-quickly-says-the-f1-legends-nephew/story-fni2fu80-1226895994629 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512153706/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/motor-sport/the-two-decades-since-the-death-of-ayrton-senna-have-passed-quickly-says-the-f1-legends-nephew/story-fni2fu80-1226895994629 |archive-date=12 May 2014 |access-date=11 March 2015 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}} In 2012, he raced for the Williams team, which was a decision that, reportedly, had a significant emotional impact on the Senna family.{{cite news |author=Phelps, James |date=15 March 2012 |title=Ayrton Senna's nephew Bruno reunites two of Formula One's most famous names |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/motor-sport/the-two-decades-since-the-death-of-ayrton-senna-have-passed-quickly-says-the-f1-legends-nephew/story-fni2fu80-1226895994629 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512153706/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/motor-sport/the-two-decades-since-the-death-of-ayrton-senna-have-passed-quickly-says-the-f1-legends-nephew/story-fni2fu80-1226895994629 |archive-date=12 May 2014 |access-date=11 March 2015 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}}

From 1985 to 1988, Senna dated—and was briefly engaged to—Adriane Yamin, the daughter of a São Paulo entrepreneur. At the start of the relationship, Yamin was 15. She was often chaperoned by her mother during dates.{{cite book |last=Rodrigues |first=Ernesto |title=Ayrton: o herói revelado |publisher=Objetiva |year=2004 |isbn=978-85-7302-602-3 |page=639 |language=pt}}

In 1988, Nelson Piquet accused Senna of being homosexual in an incendiary interview, in which Piquet also called Enzo Ferrari "senile", former teammate Nigel Mansell an "uneducated blockhead", and Mansell's wife "ugly".{{cite book |last1=Sedgwick |first1=David |title=Power and the Glory |date=1 February 2018 |publisher=Pitch Publishing |isbn=978-1-78531-412-4 |chapter=14: Monaco Grand Prix |access-date=28 June 2022 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e8pHEAAAQBAJ&dq=ayrton+senna+gay+piquet+%22senile%22&pg=PT162}} Piquet retracted his comments after Senna and Mansell threatened to sue him for slander.{{Cite web |title=3/4/1988 |url=https://historicracing.com/driverDetail.cfm?driverID=8364 |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=www.historicracing.com |language=en}} Senna shot back in a 1990 interview with the Brazilian edition of Playboy, declaring that he lost his virginity at 13 years of age to a prostitute arranged by his cousin, and insinuating that Piquet loathed him because he had previously slept with Piquet's future wife.{{cite web |date=18 January 2013 |title=Formula One's Greatest Driver Lost His Virginity to a Prostitute When He Was 13 |url=http://jalopnik.com/5977119/formula-ones-greatest-driver-lost-his-virginity-to-a-prostitute-when-he-was-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221134617/https://jalopnik.com/5977119/formula-ones-greatest-driver-lost-his-virginity-to-a-prostitute-when-he-was-13 |archive-date=21 December 2018 |access-date=18 January 2013 |publisher=Jalopnik}}

Following Piquet's remarks, Senna was involved in a series of high-profile relationships, including with Brazilian singer and television star Xuxa from late 1988 until 1990. Senna also had an affair with American model Carol Alt,{{cite web |date=24 November 2010 |title=Carol Alt: i primi cinquant'anni di un'americana un po' italiana – Panorama |url=http://societa.panorama.it/Carol-Alt-i-primi-cinquant-anni-di-un-americana-un-po-italiana |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131124092806/http://societa.panorama.it/Carol-Alt-i-primi-cinquant-anni-di-un-americana-un-po-italiana |archive-date=24 November 2013 |access-date=1 May 2014 |publisher=Societa.panorama.it |language=it}} and briefly dated models Marjorie Andrade and Elle Macpherson.{{cite web |title=The Body Beautiful Exploited? Not Supermodel Elle Macpherson |url=http://articles.philly.com/1994-03-09/entertainment/25847670_1_sirens-supermodel-flesh |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222722/http://articles.philly.com/1994-03-09/entertainment/25847670_1_sirens-supermodel-flesh |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=20 June 2013 |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer}} At the time of his death, Senna was in a relationship with Brazilian model—and, later, television personality—Adriane Galisteu.{{cite web |date=7 November 2010 |title=Adriane Galisteu: "Ayrton Senna está no meu coração e na minha cabeça" |trans-title=Adriane Galisteu: "Ayrton Senna's in my heart and in my head" |url=https://revistaepoca.globo.com/Revista/Quem/0,,EMI185731-9531,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902180415/https://revistaepoca.globo.com/Revista/Quem/0,,EMI185731-9531,00.html |archive-date=2 September 2021 |access-date=30 May 2012 |work=Quem |language=pt}} Six years after Senna's death in 2000, model Edilaine de Barros filed a paternity suit against the Senna estate, but DNA testing later proved that Senna was not the father.{{cite web |date=11 August 2000 |title=Senna Cleared by DNA Tests in Patrimony Case |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/atlasf1-report.php/id/2772/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215319/http://www.autosport.com/news/atlasf1-report.php/id/2772/ |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=6 May 2014 |website=Autosport.com |agency=Atlas F1}}

At his death, Senna's estate was estimated at $400 million. Senna owned several properties, including an organic farm in Tatuí, Brazil (where he built a go-kart track in 1991), a beach house in Angra dos Reis, Brazil, an apartment in São Paulo, Brazil, an apartment in Monaco, an estate in Sintra, on the Portuguese Riviera, and a house in Algarve, Portugal.{{cite news |last=Loaded Wilkinson |first=Tara |date=23 December 2010 |title=Europe House of the Day: Ayrton Senna's Algarva Villa |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704828104576021633581862742 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314034927/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704828104576021633581862742 |archive-date=2016-03-14 |access-date=23 December 2010 |work=The Wall Street Journal}} He owned a private jet (British Aerospace 125) and a helicopter, the latter of which he piloted to travel between his various Brazilian residences.{{cite magazine |last=Moses |first=Sam |date=18 March 1991 |title=Still Head of the Class |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1118982/2/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407085348/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1118982/2/index.htm |archive-date=7 April 2014 |access-date=14 October 2012 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}File:FoS20162016 0624 164007AA (27851648326).jpg]]As part of his close relationship with Honda, Senna endorsed Honda sportscars, including the Honda Prelude and the Honda NSX. He helped test and fine-tune the NSX, working directly with chief NSX engineer Shigeru Uehara and his team during five testing sessions at Suzuka.{{cite news |last=Frankel |first=Andrew |date=1 September 2002 |title=Honda's NSX shows why Ayrton was the greatest |url=http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/Media/2002-09-01-sundaytimes.jpg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304200934/http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/Media/2002-09-01-sundaytimes.jpg |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=9 February 2015 |work=The Sunday Times}} Honda credited Senna's feedback, explaining that Senna encouraged Uehara to increase the stiffness of the chassis.{{cite news |date=17 December 2011 |title=Honda NSX: Cult favourite resurrected |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/motoring/news/article.cfm?c_id=9&objectid=10773432 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502154036/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/motoring/news/article.cfm?c_id=9&objectid=10773432 |archive-date=2 May 2020 |access-date=16 August 2012 |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald}} In return, Honda gave Senna a custom-made black NSX. He also drove two other NSX cars owned by Honda Portugal and Senna's friend Antonio Carlos de Almeida Braga.{{cite web |title=Ayrton Senna |url=https://sennamcf.wordpress.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406093334/https://sennamcf.wordpress.com/ |archive-date=6 April 2020 |access-date=9 February 2015}}

In 1993, Senna signed a lucrative agreement to import, market, and sell Audi cars in Brazil.{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-03-21 |title=Audi do Brasil and Senna Brands Announce Partnership |url=https://audiclubna.org/audi-do-brasil-and-senna-brands-announce-partnership/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=Audi Club North America |language=en-US}} Sales began in April 1994, just a month before his untimely death. In 1999, Audi Senna was created as a joint venture of Audi with Senna Import.{{cite web |date=21 September 2010 |title=Audi Brasil > Companhia > Audi no Brasil |url=http://www.audi.com.br/br/brand/pt/company/audi_no_brasil.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006064625/http://www.audi.com.br/br/brand/pt/company/audi_no_brasil.html |archive-date=6 October 2010 |access-date=2 October 2010 |publisher=Audi.com.br}} Aside from the black NSX mentioned above, Senna's other personal car in 1994 was a silver Audi 100 S4 Avant.{{cite web |date=20 October 2004 |title=Folha Online – Classificados – Veículos – Audi expõe S4 de Ayrton Senna no Salão do Automóvel – 20/10/2004 |url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/classificados/veiculos/ult1670u1406.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031230306/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/classificados/veiculos/ult1670u1406.shtml |archive-date=31 October 2020 |access-date=2 October 2010 |publisher=.folha.uol.com.br}}{{cite news |date=11 June 2014 |title=Senna: aceleramos os carros do campeão |url=http://caranddriverbrasil.uol.com.br/carros/carros/especial/senna-aceleramos-os-carros-do-campeao/8013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208181855/http://caranddriverbrasil.uol.com.br/carros/carros/especial/senna-aceleramos-os-carros-do-campeao/8013 |archive-date=8 February 2015 |access-date=9 February 2015 |publisher=Car and Driver (Portugal)}} Senna also endorsed the Ducati 916 motorbike shortly before his death in 1994.{{cite web |date=15 September 2008 |title=Ducati 1098 Senna Tribute Bike |url=http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-news/ducati-1098-senna-tribute-bike-ar63823/picture263776.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324113822/https://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-news/ducati-1098-senna-tribute-bike/ |archive-date=24 March 2023 |access-date=16 June 2012 |publisher=TopSpeed}}

In the early 1990s, Senna developed his own merchandise brand represented by a logo with a double S, after his full surname, "Senna da Silva".{{sfnp|Rubython|2004|p=497}} This logo is meant to represent an S chicane on a racing circuit. The Senna brand was used for apparel, watches, bicycles (Carraro), motorcycles and boats. Hublot, TAG Heuer, and Universal Genève have created limited-edition watches to honour Senna, both during his lifetime and after his death.{{cite news |date=1 December 2001 |title=TAG Heuer / Ayrton Senna |url=http://www.europastar.com/news/2038034-tag-heuer-ayrton-senna.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503005222/https://www.europastar.com/news/2038034-tag-heuer-ayrton-senna.html |archive-date=3 May 2020 |access-date=4 May 2014 |work=Europa Star}}{{cite news |date=12 June 2013 |title=Hublot Launches MP-06 Senna Act IV Timepiece |url=http://www.superyachts.com/luxury/hublot-launches-mp06-senna-act-iv-timepiece-2050.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129045257/http://www.superyachts.com/luxury/hublot-launches-mp06-senna-act-iv-timepiece-2050.htm |archive-date=29 November 2014 |access-date=4 May 2014 |publisher=SuperYachts.com}}{{cite news |date=12 February 2016 |title=Universal Geneve newsletter |url=http://www.universal.ch/newsletter/en/details/didyouknow.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420103040/http://www.universal.ch/newsletter/en/details/didyouknow.htm |archive-date=20 April 2017 |access-date=12 February 2016 |publisher=universal.ch}}

Senna also endorsed several video games and multimedia offerings, including 1992's Ayrton Senna's Super Monaco GP II, which featured pre-recorded advice from Senna and included Senna's personal farm circuit in Tatuí as one of the possible tracks.{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Nathan |date=2021-10-01 |title=The long and strange history of F1 drivers in non-F1 games |url=https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/the-long-and-strange-history-of-f1-drivers-in-non-f1-games/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=The Race}} Senna also contributed several interviews to the Japan-exclusive Ayrton Senna Personal Talk: Message for the Future, a multimedia compact disc for the Sega Saturn. Ayrton Senna Kart Duel, a series of kart racing games using his branding was released for the PlayStation 1 in 1996, followed by two sequels in 1997 and 1999. Senna continues to feature in video games following his death. In 2013, Gran Turismo 6 released a Senna-centered expansion pack, with some of the proceeds going to help the IAS.{{cite web |title=Playstation 3 Bundle |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2013/10/25/ayrton-senna-rides-again-in-brazilian-gran-turismo-6-bundle/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027040445/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/10/25/ayrton-senna-rides-again-in-brazilian-gran-turismo-6-bundle/ |archive-date=27 October 2013 |access-date=25 October 2013 |publisher=Sony Computer Entertainment}} In 2019, F1 2019 released a DLC focusing on the Senna-Prost rivalry.{{cite news |last1=Boxer |first1=Steve |date=27 June 2019 |title=F1 2019 review – sublime motorsports simulation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2019/jun/27/f1-2019-game-playstation-xbox-pc-review-formula-one |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502091634/https://www.theguardian.com/games/2019/jun/27/f1-2019-game-playstation-xbox-pc-review-formula-one |archive-date=2 May 2020 |access-date=20 July 2019 |work=The Guardian}}

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Senna enjoyed a range of physical activities including running, waterskiing, jet skiing, and paddleboarding. He also had several hobbies, such as flying real and model planes and helicopters,{{cite web |title='Remembering Ayrton': His biggest hobby ... |url=http://richardsf1.com/2011/07/30/remembering-ayrton-his-biggest-hobby/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072107/http://richardsf1.com/2011/07/30/remembering-ayrton-his-biggest-hobby/ |archive-date=7 April 2014 |publisher=richardsf1}} boating, fishing, and riding Ducati motorbikes.

For his 29th birthday in 1989, the Brazilian Air Force gave Senna a flight on one of their jet fighters (a Dassault Mirage III), which bears commemorative livery and is now exhibited at the Aerospace Museum of Rio de Janeiro.{{cite web |title=MUSAL – Página inicial |url=http://www.musal.aer.mil.br/mirageayrton.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324113823/https://www2.fab.mil.br/musal/ |archive-date=24 March 2023 |access-date=8 November 2015}} After a three-ship flyover of the type at the 1990 Australian Grand Prix, Senna was given a joyride in an RAAF F-111C.{{cite web |last1=Leone |first1=Dario |date=19 July 2021 |title=The story of when Ayrton Senna Formula 1 Champion flew aboard FAB Mirage III and RAAF F-111 |url=https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-story-of-when-ayrton-senna-formula-1-champion-flew-aboard-fab-mirage-iii-and-raaf-f-111/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121060707/https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-story-of-when-ayrton-senna-formula-1-champion-flew-aboard-fab-mirage-iii-and-raaf-f-111/ |archive-date=21 November 2022 |access-date=21 November 2022 |publisher=The Aviation Geek club}}

In 1992, Senna received a fine and a temporary driving ban in the United Kingdom after driving a Porsche at speeds up to 121 mph (194.7 km/h) on the M25 near London.{{cite news |author= |date=13 August 1992 |title=Race ace Senna given driving ban |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002452/19920813/029/0003 |url-access=subscription |access-date=20 December 2019 |work=Staines & Ashford News |page=3 |via=British Newspaper Archive}}

Near the end of his career, Senna was almost universally recognized as the best driver in the sport. In 1990, he was named L'Équipe International Athlete of the Year. In 1993, a poll of Formula One drivers gave Senna a near-unanimous vote as the best driver in Formula One.{{cite news |last=Allsop |first=Derick |date=10 July 1993 |title=British Grand Prix: Guile confronts genius on a grand scale |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing--british-grand-prix-guile-confronts-genius-on-a-grand-scale-the-calculating-prost-and-the-brilliant-senna-take-one-of-sports-great-duels-to-silverstone-tomorrow-derick-allsop-reports-1484074.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925224845/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing--british-grand-prix-guile-confronts-genius-on-a-grand-scale-the-calculating-prost-and-the-brilliant-senna-take-one-of-sports-great-duels-to-silverstone-tomorrow-derick-allsop-reports-1484074.html |archive-date=25 September 2015 |access-date=19 September 2017 |newspaper=The Independent |location=London}}

Following Senna's death, various polls and ranking services have rated him the best driver of all time.

• 2004: A poll on the F1 Racing magazine.
• 2009: A poll of 217 current and former Formula One drivers conducted by Autosport magazine.{{cite news |last=Straw |first=Edd |date=10 December 2009 |title=Drivers vote Senna the greatest ever |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80517 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213114607/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80517 |archive-date=13 December 2009 |access-date=10 December 2009 |work=autosport.com |publisher=Haymarket Publications}}{{cite news |date=10 December 2009 |title=Formula 1's Greatest Drivers: 1. AYRTON SENNA |url=http://f1greatestdrivers.autosport.com/?driver=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213114732/http://f1greatestdrivers.autosport.com/?driver=1 |archive-date=13 December 2009 |access-date=10 December 2009 |work=autosport.com |publisher=Haymarket Publications}}
• 2010: A poll of F1 drivers conducted by German newspaper Bild am Sonntag.{{cite news |date=23 July 2010 |title=Alonso voted best driver |url=http://sify.com/sports/alonso-voted-best-driver-news-news-khxqOjgjchi.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726141740/http://sify.com/sports/alonso-voted-best-driver-news-news-khxqOjgjchi.html |archive-date=26 July 2010 |access-date=27 July 2010 |work=Sify}}
• 2012: A poll of BBC Sport journalists.{{cite news |date=20 November 2012 |title=Formula 1's greatest drivers. Number 1: Ayrton Senna |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/20324109 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602214908/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/20324109 |archive-date=2 June 2021 |access-date=22 November 2012 |work=BBC Sport}}
• 2020: Formula One, sponsored by Amazon Web Services, used AWS machine learning algorithms to compare drivers' qualifying performances. The algorithm named Senna the fastest qualifier of all time.{{cite news |date=18 August 2020 |title=Hamilton? Schumacher? Senna? Machine learning reveals the fastest F1 driver of the past 40 years |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/hamilton-schumacher-senna-machine-learning-reveals-the-fastest-f1-driver-of.3DwwPLW4glCmlunjciH1Cz |access-date=10 August 2024 |work=F1 |publisher=formula1.com}}

In April 2000, Senna was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.{{cite web |date=2 November 1999 |title=International Motorsports Hall of Fame adds Andretti |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HDgfAAAAIBAJ&pg=2027,265093&dq=ayrton+senna+international+hall+of+fame&hl=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124161333/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HDgfAAAAIBAJ&pg=2027%2C265093&dq=ayrton+senna+international+hall+of+fame&hl=en |archive-date=24 November 2021 |access-date=1 November 2020 |page=D2 |newspaper=Herald-Journal}} That year, the British public also voted Senna's opening lap of the 1993 European Grand Prix, the 43rd in the list of the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments.{{cite web |title=100 Greatest sporting moments – results |url=http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest_sporting/results.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020204090913/http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest_sporting/results.html |archive-date=4 February 2002 |access-date=28 August 2014 |work=Channel 4}}

Towards the end of his career, Senna became increasingly preoccupied with the dangers of his profession. On the morning of his death, he spoke with current and former rivals and friends, including Niki Lauda and Alain Prost, about reforming the Formula One drivers' union, the Grand Prix Drivers' Association. Senna wanted the GPDA to advocate for safety reforms.{{cite news |last=Schot |first=Marcel |title=The F1 FAQ |url=http://atlasf1.autosport.com/2000/bel/faq.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211172802/http://atlasf1.autosport.com/2000/bel/faq.html |archive-date=11 February 2009 |access-date=16 June 2012 |website=Atlas F1}}

Following the events of Imola 1994, Formula One enacted a variety of safety improvements. These included improved crash barriers, redesigned tracks, higher crash safety standards, and significant cuts to engine power. On-track medical procedures were revised, and the Tamburello corner and other parts of the Imola circuit were altered in 1995.{{cite news |last=Alsop |first=Derick |date=12 May 1994 |title=Motor Racing: Hill confronts life on the track after Senna |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing-hill-confronts-life-on-the-track-after-senna-after-the-double-tragedy-at-imola-it-is-back-to-the-wheel-derick-allsop-reports-from-monte-carlo-1435486.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404112630/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing-hill-confronts-life-on-the-track-after-senna-after-the-double-tragedy-at-imola-it-is-back-to-the-wheel-derick-allsop-reports-from-monte-carlo-1435486.html |archive-date=4 April 2021 |access-date=16 August 2012 |work=The Independent |location=London}}

Senna was often quoted as using driving as a means for self-discovery and racing as a metaphor for life, saying: "The harder I push, the more I find within myself. I am always looking for the next step, a different world to go into, areas where I have not been before. It's lonely driving a Grand Prix car, but very absorbing. I have experienced new sensations, and I want more. That is my excitement, my motivation."{{sfnp|Collings|Edworthy|2002|p=238}}

Senna was proud of his driving ability, and responded angrily to criticism. In 2000, Autocourse noted that "Senna was the one driver who genuinely cared where he was ranked in [Autocourse's ranking of the year's] Top 10 drivers," and took being placed below his rivals as a personal slight.{{cite book |title=Autocourse 2000-01 |date=2000 |publisher=Hazleton Publishing |isbn=9781874557791 |editor-last=Henry |editor-first=Alan |editor-link=Alan Henry}} (Senna was ranked No. 1 in 1988, 1991, and 1993.) In 1990, Autocourse dropped Senna from No. 1 to No. 2 to criticize him for wrecking Alain Prost at Suzuka in 1990. Senna was so outraged that despite being given the No. 1 driver award in 1991, Senna refused to write the usually customary foreword by the year's World Champion; Honda's Head of Racing wrote the foreword instead. In 1993, Autocourse ranked Senna No. 1 even though Prost took the title that year, writing that Senna had "intense egocentricity and uniquely flawed genius" and "matchless genius in the wet".{{cite book |title=AUTOCOURSE 1993-94 |date=1993 |publisher=Hazleton Publishing |isbn=1-874557-15-2 |editor-last=Henry |editor-first=Alan |editor-link=Alan Henry |page=14}}

Although Senna cultivated a public image of "an inward-looking, aloof driver who is hard to get along with,"{{Cite news |last=Siano |first=Joseph |date=1991-03-17 |title=Senna Has Room To Improve Driving |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/17/sports/auto-racing-senna-has-room-to-improve-driving.html |access-date=2024-10-08 |work=The New York Times}} Senna was close friends with McLaren teammate Gerhard Berger. The two frequently played practical jokes on each other.{{Cite web |last=Veenstra |first=Rob |date=16 September 2015 |title=History: The story of Berger and Senna |website=GPToday |url=https://www.gptoday.net/en/news/f1/205039/history-the-story-of-berger-and-senna |access-date=7 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209193255/https://www.gptoday.net/en/news/f1/205039/history-the-story-of-berger-and-senna |archive-date=9 December 2022 |url-status=live}} Berger summed up their relationship by saying "He taught me a lot about our sport, I taught him to laugh."{{Cite web |date=21 March 2012 |title=A star was born {{!}} Ayrton Senna - A Tribute to Life |url=https://www.ayrton-senna.net/ayrton-senna-a-star-was-born/ |access-date=7 July 2022 |website=ayrton-senna.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523102140/https://www.ayrton-senna.net/ayrton-senna-a-star-was-born/ |archive-date=23 May 2022 |url-status=live}} Senna's press officer selected Berger and Emerson Fittipaldi to lead the procession of Formula One greats at Senna's funeral.{{Cite web |date=2014-05-06 |title=Formula One champions Jackie Stewart, Alain Prost were not allowed in front of Ayrton Senna's coffin |url=https://www.autoweek.com/racing/formula-1/a1895296/formula-one-champions-jackie-stewart-alain-prost-were-not-allowed-front-ayrton/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Autoweek}}

A Brazilian cultural icon, Senna remains a national hero in Brazil. In addition, in 2006, the Japanese public ranked Senna 22nd in Nippon TV's survey of Japan's favourite persons in history.{{cite web |date=7 May 2015 |title=10 Greatest Race Car Drivers of All Time |url=http://www.carophile.org/greatest-race-car-drivers-of-all-time/9/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409021227/http://www.carophile.org/greatest-race-car-drivers-of-all-time/9/ |archive-date=9 April 2017 |access-date=9 April 2017 |work=carophile.org}}{{cite web |title=The Top 100 Historical Persons in Japanの意味 – 英和辞典 Weblio辞書 |url=http://ejje.weblio.jp/content/The+Top+100+Historical+Persons+in+Japan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223112811/http://ejje.weblio.jp/content/The+Top+100+Historical+Persons+in+Japan |archive-date=23 December 2016 |access-date=5 November 2011 |publisher=Ejje.weblio.jp}}

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| footer = Clockwise from top left: A memorial in Ibirapuera Park; the Senna S at Interlagos; Senna's statue near the Imola Circuit; Senna's statue in Wałbrzych, Poland

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Various tracks feature Senna memorials. A statue of Senna stands in a park in Imola, near the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari's Tamburello corner. Adelaide, reportedly one of Senna's favourite circuits and the track where he scored his final Formula One race win,{{cite web |date=8 February 2012 |title=Ayrton Senna Blog – A Tribute to Life |url=http://ayrton-senna.co.uk/blog/f1-legacy-ayrton-senna/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105084122/http://ayrton-senna.co.uk/blog/f1-legacy-ayrton-senna/ |archive-date=5 November 2013 |access-date=8 February 2012}} installed a plaque bearing Senna's signature and hand prints in 1995, while the chicane at the end of the pit straight on the Adelaide Street Circuit has since been re-named the Senna Chicane.{{cite web |title=Ayrton Senna |url=http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/sport/display/50134-ayrton-senna |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406120641/http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/sport/display/50134-ayrton-senna |archive-date=6 April 2020 |access-date=3 May 2015 |work=Monument Australia}} Monaco, where Senna triumphed a record six times, installed a plaque in Senna's honour at the Fairmont/Lowes hairpin in 2007.{{cite web |date=26 May 2007 |title=Principado de Mônaco exalta seu 'rei' Ayrton Senna |url=https://diariodonordeste.verdesmares.com.br/jogada/principado-de-monaco-exalta-seu-rei-ayrton-senna-1.881921 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902180415/https://diariodonordeste.verdesmares.com.br/jogada/principado-de-monaco-exalta-seu-rei-ayrton-senna-1.881921 |archive-date=2 September 2021 |access-date=21 October 2012 |publisher=Globo |language=pt}} Adelaide, Interlagos, Jerez, Hockenheim, Montreal, Snetterton, Estoril, and Buenos Aires have all renamed portions of their track after Senna.{{cite web |title=Google Maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Senna+Rd,+Wingfield+SA+5013,+Australia/@-34.8422568,138.5654026,18z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x6ab0c80e57dc52af:0xc84137a51e7e8b89 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328005017/https://www.google.com/maps/place/Senna+Rd,+Wingfield+SA+5013,+Australia/@-34.8422568,138.5654026,18z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x6ab0c80e57dc52af:0xc84137a51e7e8b89 |archive-date=28 March 2021 |access-date=30 December 2018}}{{Cite web |date=2017-11-16 |title=Wherever there is speed, there is Senna – even naming tracks around the world – Ayrton Senna |url=https://senna.com/en/onde-tem-velocidade-tem-senna-inclusive-batizando-pistas-pelo-mundo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201135905/https://senna.com/en/onde-tem-velocidade-tem-senna-inclusive-batizando-pistas-pelo-mundo/ |archive-date=1 December 2023 |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=Senna.com}}{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Luke |date=2018-09-20 |title=Insight: The honour of naming corners after F1 & MotoGP stars |url=https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/insight-the-honour-of-naming-corners-after-f1-motogp-stars-65888/3222169/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222183008/https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/insight-the-honour-of-naming-corners-after-f1-motogp-stars-65888/3222169/ |archive-date=22 December 2021 |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=Motorsport.com}}

From 1995 to 2021, Williams included a small "S" logo on the front wing of all of its cars to honour Senna and support the IAS.{{cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Todd |date=7 March 2014 |title=FW36 to have updated Senna logo for 2014 |url=http://www.williamsf1.com/Team/Media/News/FW36-to-Have-Updated-Senna-Logo-for-2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504192214/http://www.williamsf1.com/Team/Media/News/FW36-to-Have-Updated-Senna-Logo-for-2014/ |archive-date=4 May 2014 |publisher=WilliamsF1}}{{Cite web |last1=Cleeren |first1=Filip |last2=Noble |first2=Jonathan |date=15 February 2022 |title=Williams explains decision to remove Senna S logo from 2022 F1 car |url=https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/williams-explains-decision-to-remove-senna-s-logo-from-2022-f1-car/8196680/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304081119/https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/williams-explains-decision-to-remove-senna-s-logo-from-2022-f1-car/8196680/ |archive-date=4 March 2023 |access-date=29 March 2023 |website=Motorsport.com}} Following the Williams family's sale of the team to Dorilton Capital, the logo was removed. The team announced plans to open a new space fully dedicated to the Brazilian driver in the Williams museum in Grove.

In July 2013, Honda released an audio-visual tribute titled "Sound of Honda – Ayrton Senna 1989". Using the telemetry and sound of Senna's Honda-powered McLaren MP4/5, Honda recreated Senna's record-setting lap at the 1989 Japanese Grand Prix by positioning speakers and lights along the Suzuka Circuit. The lights traced Senna's real-life path and were synchronized to Senna's actual laptime.{{cite web |last=Padeanu |first=Andrew |date=26 July 2013 |title=Honda's tribute to Ayrton Senna is brilliant [video] |url=http://www.motor1.com/news/40232/hondas-tribute-to-ayrton-senna-is-brilliant-video/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406122836/https://www.motor1.com/news/40232/hondas-tribute-to-ayrton-senna-is-brilliant-video/ |archive-date=6 April 2020 |access-date=14 November 2015 |publisher=Motor1}}

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton idolized Senna as a boy and has conducted various tributes for Senna throughout his career. When Hamilton matched Senna's three titles in 2015, Viviane Senna presented Hamilton with an Ian Berry artwork.{{Cite news |last=Superesportes |date=2015-11-17 |title=Campeão mundial, Lewis Hamilton ganha quadro de ídolo Ayrton Senna antes de deixar o Brasil |url=https://www.mg.superesportes.com.br/app/noticias/automobilismo/2015/11/17/noticia_automobilismo,323781/campeao-mundial-lewis-hamilton-ganha-quadro-de-idolo-ayrton-senna-antes-de-deixar-o-brasil.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502100527/https://www.mg.superesportes.com.br/app/noticias/automobilismo/2015/11/17/noticia_automobilismo,323781/campeao-mundial-lewis-hamilton-ganha-quadro-de-idolo-ayrton-senna-antes-de-deixar-o-brasil.shtml |archive-date=2 May 2020 |access-date=2018-06-29 |work=Superesportes |language=pt}} Hamilton wore Senna tribute helmets at the Brazil races in 2011, 2015, and 2016, with the Senna family's support.{{cite web |date=25 November 2011 |title=Friday practice – selected team and driver quotes |url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2011/11/12833.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129054130/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2011/11/12833.html |archive-date=29 November 2014 |access-date=16 August 2012 |publisher=Formula1.com}}{{cite web |date=13 November 2015 |title=Just for you, Brazil! Lewis Hamilton unveils Ayrton Senna tribute helmet |url=http://zeenews.india.com/sports/motorsports/just-for-you-brazil-lewis-hamilton-unveils-ayrton-senna-tribute-helmet_1821632.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406160715/https://zeenews.india.com/sports/motorsports/just-for-you-brazil-lewis-hamilton-unveils-ayrton-senna-tribute-helmet_1821632.html |archive-date=6 April 2020 |access-date=15 November 2015 |publisher=Zee News}}{{Cite news |last=Jackson |first=Kieran |date=2022-11-11 |title=From jeers to one of their own: How Brazil took Lewis Hamilton to their hearts |url=https://www.the-independent.com/f1/lewis-hamilton-brazil-citizenship-interlagos-b2222562.html |access-date=2024-10-15 |work=The Independent}} When Hamilton matched Senna's 65 pole positions in 2017, the Senna family presented Hamilton with a race-worn Senna helmet.{{Cite web |last1=Freeman |first1=Glenn |last2=Noble |first2=Jonathan |date=10 June 2017 |title=Lewis Hamilton given Ayrton Senna helmet for matching F1 pole tally |url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/130057/hamilton-gets-senna-helmet-for-matching-poles |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027044907/https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/130057/hamilton-gets-senna-helmet-for-matching-poles |archive-date=27 October 2020 |access-date=19 May 2020 |website=Autosport.com}} At the 2021 São Paulo Grand Prix, Hamilton delighted the crowd by waving a Brazilian flag during his victory lap, homaging Senna's victory celebration from the 1991 Brazilian Grand Prix (Senna's first-ever win in Brazil) thirty years earlier.{{Cite web |last=Edmondson |first=Laurence |date=2021-11-14 |title=Hamilton fined for removing seat belts on slowing down lap |url=https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/32630688/lewis-hamilton-fined-removing-seat-belts-slowing-lap-brazil |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} The Brazilian government granted Hamilton honorary citizenship in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Tobin |first=Dominic |date=2022-06-10 |title=Lewis Hamilton made honorary Brazilian citizen after Interlagos flag celebration |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/lewis-hamilton-made-honorary-brazilian-citizen-after-interlagos-flag-celebration/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Motor Sport Magazine |language=en-GB}} Hamilton repeated the Brazilian flag tribute at the 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix, this time driving Senna's 1990 McLaren MP4/5B.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWdBb0F6cc4 |title=Lewis Hamilton Drives Ayrton Senna's Car {{!}} 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix |date=2024-11-04 |last=FORMULA 1 |access-date=2024-11-04 |via=YouTube}}

Statues of Senna have been erected in Barcelona,{{cite news |last1=Mafi |first1=Nick |date=22 November 2019 |title=28 of the Most Fascinating Public Sculptures |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/11-most-fascinating-public-sculptures |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229213258/https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/11-most-fascinating-public-sculptures |archive-date=29 December 2021 |access-date=30 December 2021 |publisher=Architect Digest}} Wałbrzych,{{cite web |date=20 September 2021 |title=Ayrton Senna statue is inaugurated next to museum in Poland |url=https://www.ayrtonsenna.com.br/en/estatua-de-ayrton-senna-e-inaugurada-ao-lado-de-museu-na-polonia |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205180008/https://www.ayrtonsenna.com.br/en/estatua-de-ayrton-senna-e-inaugurada-ao-lado-de-museu-na-polonia |archive-date=5 December 2021 |access-date=5 December 2021 |website=AyrtonSenna.com.br}}{{cite web |author=Wiktoria Blicharz-Janicka |date=1 May 2021 |title=Pomnik Ayrtona Senny stanął w Wałbrzychu. Pomysłodawcą jest były kierowca wyścigowy Jerzy Mazur |url=https://walbrzych.wyborcza.pl/walbrzych/7,178336,27039415,pomnik-ayrtona-senny-stanie-w-walbrzychu-pomyslodawca-jest.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205215730/https://walbrzych.wyborcza.pl/walbrzych/7,178336,27039415,pomnik-ayrtona-senny-stanie-w-walbrzychu-pomyslodawca-jest.html |archive-date=5 December 2021 |access-date=5 December 2021 |publisher=Wyborcza.pl}} Estoril,{{cite web |last1=Kanal |first1=Samarth |title=Estoril and memories of Senna |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/estoril-and-memories-senna/ |website=Motorsport|date=9 October 2018 }} and Imola—the site of his fatal crash.{{cite web |last1=Archives |first1=Autoweek |title=F1 Great Ayrton Senna's Death: The Car, The Helmet, The Funeral, The Trial, And More |url=https://www.autoweek.com/racing/formula-1/a1894831/ayrton-sennas-death-car-helmet-funeral-trial-and-more/ |website=Autoweek|date=16 May 2024 }} The Ayrton Senna monument at Imola was developed by Stefano Pierotti and completed in 1997.{{cite web |last1=Dst |first1=Marco |title=Monumento ad Ayrton Senna |url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ayrton-senna-memorial |publisher=Atlas Obscura}} In 2024, the Imola statue site was vandalized on two occasions during the month of December, but the statue itself was not damaged.{{cite web |last1=Mee |first1=Lydia |title=Ayrton Senna Memorial Vandalized over Christmas Holidays |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/racing/f1briefings/news/ayrton-senna-memorial-vandalized-over-christmas-holidays-01jgbrs98zp6 |website=On SI|date=30 December 2024 }}

In Brazil, a major freeway and tunnel in São Paulo and a freeway in Rio de Janeiro are named after Senna. Outside Brazil, Senna's name graces a road in Senna's favoured resort town of Quinta do Lago, Algarve, Portugal; a street in Tilehurst, Reading, England, where Senna lived during his years as a junior racer;{{cite web |date=23 June 2011 |url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2095008_ayrton_senna_a_legend_but_not_in_the_garden |title=Ayrton Senna a legend... but not in the garden |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607040133/http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2095008_ayrton_senna_a_legend_but_not_in_the_garden |archive-date=7 June 2013}} a road in the Adelaide suburb of Wingfield; and a street and museum in Wałbrzych, Poland. Outside Earth, minor planet 6543 Senna is also named for Senna.{{cite book |title=Dictionary of Minor Planet Names |date=2003 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-540-29925-7 |pages=540 |chapter=(6543) Senna |doi=10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_5940 |access-date=2 July 2021 |chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-3-540-29925-7_5940 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182136/https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-3-540-29925-7_5940 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |url-status=live}}

In September 2024, a property developer in collaboration with the Senna family announced plans to build the Senna Tower, a {{convert|544|m|ft|abbr=on}} supertall residential skyscraper in Balneário Camboriú, Brazil.{{Cite news |date=18 September 2024 |title=Senna Tower: veja imagens de como ficará projeto de prédio com nome inspirado em piloto e ídolo da F1 |trans-title=Senna Tower: see images how will look like the building with a name inspired by the F1 driver and idol |url=https://oglobo.globo.com/brasil/noticia/2024/09/18/senna-tower-veja-imagens-de-como-ficara-projeto-de-predio-com-nome-inspirado-em-piloto-e-idolo-da-f1.ghtml |website=O Globo |language=pt}}

2004 marked the 10th anniversary of Senna's death. On 21 April 2004, Imola hosted a charity football match attended by over 10,000 people. The match featured members of Brazil's 1994 World Cup-winning team competing against an exhibition team of Formula One drivers. Viviane Senna presided at the kickoff. The match finished 5–5 and all profits were donated to the IAS. In addition, the book Ayrton: O Herói Revelado (Ayrton: The Hero Revealed) was published.{{cite web |author=Ernesto Rodrigues |title=Editora Objetiva |url=http://www.objetiva.com.br |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502101927/http://www.objetiva.com.br/ |archive-date=2 May 2017}}

2010 marked the year of Senna's 50th birthday. In March, Senna's favourite football team, Corinthians, played a video in Senna's memory.{{cite web |date=21 March 2010 |title=Brasil lembra os 50 anos de Ayrton Senna |url=http://atarde.uol.com.br/noticias/2101186 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231211942/http://atarde.uol.com.br/noticias/2101186 |archive-date=31 December 2012 |access-date=21 October 2010 |publisher=UOL |language=pt}} In July, Lewis Hamilton paid tribute to Senna by driving his title-winning McLaren MP4/4 on an episode of Top Gear.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc2fs1LJLDg |title=Top Gear F1: Lewis Hamilton Drives Senna's Formula 1 Car With Jeremy Clarkson |date=2021-10-08 |last=F1Briefings |access-date=2024-10-15 |via=YouTube}} In October, StudioCanal, Working Title Films, and Midfield Films released Asif Kapadia's BAFTA-winning documentary Senna, which traces Senna's championship years at McLaren and his efforts to improve safety in the sport.{{cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Todd |date=31 January 2011 |title=Ayrton Senna rides again in thrilling documentary |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/us-film-senna-idINTRE70U0NW20110131 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307034513/http://in.reuters.com/article/us-film-senna-idINTRE70U0NW20110131 |archive-date=7 March 2016 |access-date=13 October 2012 |publisher=Reuters India}}

2014 marked the 20th anniversary of Senna's death. Many tributes took place to commemorate his life.

• The Imola Circuit hosted a memorial ceremony and moment of silence on 1 May 2014, the anniversary.{{cite web |date=1 May 2014 |title=Ayrton Senna: Imola circuit holds silence for Brazilian 20 years on |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/27226651 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620123946/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/27226651 |archive-date=20 June 2015 |access-date=13 February 2018 |work=BBC Sport}}{{cite web |date=1 May 2014 |title=Ayrton Senna to be remembered in Imola |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/apr/26/ayrton-senna-remembered-imola-death |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160212143313/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/apr/26/ayrton-senna-remembered-imola-death |archive-date=12 February 2016 |access-date=14 December 2016 |work=The Guardian}}{{cite web |date=1 May 2014 |title=Ayrton Senna statue |url=http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20140501&t=2&i=893421247&w=580&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=LYNXMPEA4016L |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502002544/http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20140501&t=2&i=893421247&w=580&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=LYNXMPEA4016L |archive-date=2 May 2020 |access-date=25 May 2014 |work=Google Images}} Senna's friend Gerhard Berger and various drivers associated with Italy and Ferrari were in attendance.{{cite web |date=3 May 2014 |title=20 years memorial Senna died at Imola |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPc2fLt6YAE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306185152/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPc2fLt6YAE |archive-date=2016-03-06 |work=YouTube}}
• San Marino issued a series of commemorative stamps and silver proof coins.{{cite web |date=8 May 2014 |title=20/o Senna, francobollo da San Marino |url=http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/sport/f1/2014/05/08/20o-senna-francobollo-da-san-marino_c5e1e753-3c2e-47d2-ab5f-86d8dd103dce.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406140444/https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/sport/f1/2014/05/08/20o-senna-francobollo-da-san-marino_c5e1e753-3c2e-47d2-ab5f-86d8dd103dce.html |archive-date=6 April 2020 |access-date=14 May 2015 |work=ANSA}}{{cite web |date=12 August 2014 |title=Vent'anni senza il grande Ayrton Senna |url=http://www.ilgiornaledellanumismatica.it/?p=942 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620131942/http://www.ilgiornaledellanumismatica.it/?p=942 |archive-date=20 June 2017 |access-date=14 May 2015 |work=Il Giornale della Numistica}}
• During the Brazilian Carnival celebrations, the samba group Unidos da Tijuca received a prize for a Senna-themed parade.{{cite web |date=4 March 2014 |title=Unidos da Tijuca encerra Carnaval com desfile acelerado em tributo a Senna |url=http://carnaval.uol.com.br/2014/rio-de-janeiro/noticias/2014/03/04/unidos-da-tijuca-encerra-carnaval-com-desfile-acelerado-em-tributo-a-senna.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514055032/http://carnaval.uol.com.br/2014/rio-de-janeiro/noticias/2014/03/04/unidos-da-tijuca-encerra-carnaval-com-desfile-acelerado-em-tributo-a-senna.htm |archive-date=14 May 2014 |access-date=13 May 2014 |work=UOL}}
• Senna's birthday was marked by a Google Doodle.{{cite news |last=de Menezes |first=Jack |date=20 March 2014 |title=Ayrton Senna: Senna in his own words as Google Doodle honour F1 driver's 54th birthday |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/ayrton-sennas-54th-birthday-senna-in-his-own-words-as-google-doodle-honour-f1-great-9205960.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140411065100/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/ayrton-sennas-54th-birthday-senna-in-his-own-words-as-google-doodle-honour-f1-great-9205960.html |archive-date=11 April 2014 |access-date=19 September 2017 |work=The Independent |location=London}}
• Brazilian regional airline Azul Linhas Aereas named a plane after Senna and painted it in the colours of Senna's helmet.{{cite web |date=28 April 2014 |title=Empresa aérea pinta bico de aeronave com desenho do capacete de Senna |url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/motor/formula-1/noticia/2014/04/empresa-aerea-pinta-bico-de-aeronave-com-desenho-do-capacete-de-senna.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406140435/http://globoesporte.globo.com/motor/formula-1/noticia/2014/04/empresa-aerea-pinta-bico-de-aeronave-com-desenho-do-capacete-de-senna.html |archive-date=6 April 2020 |access-date=12 May 2014 |work=Globo News}}{{cite web |date=30 April 2014 |title=Azul and Ayrton Senna Institute team up to pay tribute to Ayrton Senna with a new logo jet |url=http://worldairlinenews.com/tag/pr-ayu/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518181036/http://worldairlinenews.com/tag/pr-ayu/ |archive-date=18 May 2014 |access-date=17 May 2014 |work=World Airline News}}
• French company Art Mint produced a series of commemorative coins designed by a Brazilian artist.{{cite web |date=7 December 2014 |title=Una moneta celebra il grande Ayrton Senna |url=https://autosprint.corrieredellosport.it/news/mondo-racing/2014/12/07-206690/una_moneta_celebra_il_grande_ayrton_senna/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805201705/https://autosprint.corrieredellosport.it/news/mondo-racing/2014/12/07-206690/una_moneta_celebra_il_grande_ayrton_senna/ |archive-date=5 August 2020 |access-date=14 May 2015 |work=Autosprint}}
• British artist Ian Berry unveiled a portrait of Ayrton at the Instituto Ayrton Senna, with Senna's family in attendance.{{Cite web |date=2014-11-05 |title=British Artist Ian Berry creates portrait of Ayrton Senna made from his family's jeans |url=http://www.ayrtonsenna.com.br/en/na-semana-da-f-1-em-sp-artista-britanico-cria-retrato-de-ayrton-senna-a-partir-de-jeans/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406140452/https://www.ayrtonsenna.com.br/en/na-semana-da-f-1-em-sp-artista-britanico-cria-retrato-de-ayrton-senna-a-partir-de-jeans/ |archive-date=6 April 2020 |access-date=2018-06-29 |work=Ayrton Senna}}{{Cite web |last=Himelfield |first=Dave |date=5 November 2014 |title=It's in the jeans: Ayrton Senna immortalised in DENIM |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/ayrton-senna-immortalised-denim-british-4575727 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406142011/https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/ayrton-senna-immortalised-denim-british-4575727 |archive-date=6 April 2020 |access-date=29 June 2018 |work=Daily Mirror}}

2019 marked the 25th anniversary of Senna's death. The organisers of the 2019 Spanish Grand Prix presented race winner Lewis Hamilton with a half-Austrian, half-Brazilian flag in honour of Senna and Roland Ratzenberger.{{cite web |date=1 May 2019 |title=Spanish Grand Prix plans 'tribute that never happened' for Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger |url=https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/26645152/spanish-grand-prix-plans-tribute-never-happened-ayrton-senna-roland-ratzenberger |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406121952/https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/26645152/spanish-grand-prix-plans-tribute-never-happened-ayrton-senna-roland-ratzenberger |archive-date=6 April 2020 |access-date=19 March 2020 |publisher=ESPN}}

The Instituto Ayrton Senna (IAS) occasionally licenses Senna's brand for various commercial and charitable enterprises, mostly related to motorsport.

• Ducati produced three special Senna editions of the Ducati 916 superbike (1996–1998) and the 1199 Panigale S Senna (2013).{{cite news |author=Ducati |date=8 October 2013 |title=Ducati present "Senna" version of 1199 Panigale S exclusively in Brazil from June 2014 (press release) |url=http://www.ducati.com/news/ducati_present__senna__version_of_1199_panigale_s_exclusively_in_brazil_from_june_2014/2013/10/23/2981/index.do |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111025325/http://www.ducati.com/news/ducati_present__senna__version_of_1199_panigale_s_exclusively_in_brazil_from_june_2014/2013/10/23/2981/index.do |archive-date=11 November 2013 |access-date=19 April 2015}}
• MV Agusta released two limited-edition motorbikes, the F4 750 Senna (2002) and the F4 Senna 1000 (2006). All profits were donated to the IAS.
• During the brief McLaren-Honda reunion in the 2010s, Honda and McLaren ran advertising campaigns recalling the Senna legend.{{cite web |date=8 May 2015 |title=Ayrton Senna hologram: Formula 1 legend recreated as hologram by McLaren partner Tag Heuer, video |url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/motor-sport/formula-one/ayrton-senna-hologram-formula-1-legend-recreated-as-hologram-by-mclaren-partner-tag-heuer-video/story-e6frf3zl-1227346721666 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324113857/https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/ayrton-senna-hologram-formula-1-legend-recreated-as-hologram-by-mclaren-partner-tag-heuer-video/story-e6frf3zl-1227346721666?nk=a4f0f9f70a364109192fc7e1363edfe5-1679657937 |archive-date=24 March 2023 |access-date=14 November 2015 |work=Fox Sports}}{{cite web |last=Hurrellu |first=Stephen |date=14 August 2013 |title=F1 greats Jenson Button and Ayrton Senna star in stunning new 'space travel' Honda advert |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/f1-greats-jenson-button-ayrton-6251575 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406122831/https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/f1-greats-jenson-button-ayrton-6251575 |archive-date=6 April 2020 |access-date=14 November 2015 |publisher=Mirror UK}}
• In 2014, the IAS commissioned a commemorative Vespa that was auctioned off for charity. It was custom-painted in the colours of Senna's helmet, and its design recalled Piaggio's sponsorship gifts to Formula One polesitters.{{cite web|title=Senna's relationship with Vespa takes center stage in auction|url=http://www.ayrtonsenna.com.br/en/eventos/leilao-evidencia-a-relacao-de-senna-com-a-vespa/|publisher=AIS|date=30 June 2014|access-date=9 November 2015|archive-date=20 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220134745/http://www.ayrtonsenna.com.br/en/eventos/leilao-evidencia-a-relacao-de-senna-com-a-vespa/|url-status=live}}
• In 2017, McLaren Automotive produced the McLaren Senna, a 789-horsepower supercar.{{Cite web |title=McLaren Senna name confirmed for 789bhp track-focused hypercar |url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/mclaren-senna-name-confirmed-789bhp-track-focused-hypercar |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406122107/https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/mclaren-senna-name-confirmed-789bhp-track-focused-hypercar |archive-date=6 April 2020 |access-date=9 December 2017 |website=Autocar}}
• In 2017, American firm Rosland Capital produced a series of commemorative coins featuring Senna.{{Cite web |title=Rosland Capital unveils special Ayrton Senna gold and silver coins |url=http://overdrive.in/news-cars-auto/rosland-capital-unveils-special-ayrton-senna-gold-and-silver-coins/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406140439/http://overdrive.in/news-cars-auto/rosland-capital-unveils-special-ayrton-senna-gold-and-silver-coins/ |archive-date=6 April 2020 |access-date=2018-03-14 |website=Overdrive}}
• In 2018, Nike and the Corinthians football team unveiled a special Senna kit to commemorate Senna's first World Championship, with the tagline #LuteAtéSerEterno [fight until you're eternal].{{cite web |date=1 October 2018 |title=Nike and Corinthians launch collection honouring Senna's legacy |url=https://www.ayrtonsenna.com.br/en/nike-e-corinthians-lancam-colecao-em-homenagem-ao-legado-eterno-de-ayrton-senna/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406122051/https://www.ayrtonsenna.com.br/en/nike-e-corinthians-lancam-colecao-em-homenagem-ao-legado-eterno-de-ayrton-senna/ |archive-date=6 April 2020 |access-date=19 March 2020 |publisher=AyrtonSenna.com}}

File:Senninha 2.jpg]]

As part of Japanese publisher Shueisha's sponsorship of McLaren, Senna collaborated with Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, on artwork for Weekly Shōnen Jump featuring McLaren-themed illustrations of Dragon Ball characters. Senna was also featured in GP Boy, a two-volume manga published in Weekly Shōnen Jump to commemorate Shueisha's sponsorship, and in F1 no Senkō, also published on Jump, which recounts the 1991 Formula One season from Senna's perspective.{{cite web |author=Talpade, A. |date=27 December 2021 |title=When F1 collaborated with popular anime Dragon Ball Z |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/f1/news-when-f1-collaborated-popular-anime-dragon-ball-z |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520182706/https://www.sportskeeda.com/f1/news-when-f1-collaborated-popular-anime-dragon-ball-z |archive-date=20 May 2023 |access-date=21 June 2023 |publisher=Sportskeeda}}{{cite web |author=Padula, D. |date=20 January 2020 |title=Was Akira Toriyama Inspired By Formula 1 Racer Ayrton Senna? |url=https://thedaoofdragonball.com/blog/history/was-akira-toriyama-inspired-by-formula-1-racer-ayrton-senna/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520184100/https://thedaoofdragonball.com/blog/history/was-akira-toriyama-inspired-by-formula-1-racer-ayrton-senna/ |archive-date=20 May 2023 |access-date=21 June 2023 |publisher=The Dao of Dragon Ball}}

Senna launched the cartoon character Senninha ("Little Senna") in 1993/94 to appeal to Brazilian children.{{cite web |title=Senna's World:SENNINHA |url=http://www.sennaworld.com/senninha.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110072238/http://www.sennaworld.com/senninha.html |archive-date=10 January 2012 |access-date=16 June 2012 |publisher=Senna's World}} A Senninha comic book ran from 1994 to 2000, with a brief relaunch in 2008.

Senna is mentioned in episode 151 of the Japanese animated series Gintama, along with two other F1 drivers, Jacques Villeneuve and Rubens Barrichello.

Senna's nephew Bruno voiced an animated depiction of his uncle in McLaren's Tooned cartoon series to commemorate McLaren's 50th anniversary.{{cite web |author1-link=McLaren|title=Tooned 50: The making of (part 2)|website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw2VjijqxOI|language=en |format=video|date=November 18, 2013}} Episode 6 of the series' second season tells a fictionalized account of Senna's career with McLaren involving a rivalry with the character Professor M (voiced by Alexander Armstrong).{{cite web |author1-link=McLaren|title=Tooned 50: Episode 6 - The Ayrton Senna Story|website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTI8boCqmus|language=en |format=video|date=October 27, 2013}}

In 2024, Netflix released an eponymous biographical miniseries based on Senna's life, starring Gabriel Leone as Senna.{{Cite web |last=Hopewell |first=John |date=2020-12-04 |title='Senna' Producer Fabiano Gullane on Netflix's Biggest Brazilian Play, New Business Models, Brazil's Crisis |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/global/senna-netflix-fabiano-gullane-1234846296/ |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=Variety}}{{Cite magazine |last=Jogia |first=Saajan |date=2023-10-26 |title=F1 News: Netflix Reveals Major Development In Ayrton Senna Mini-Series Coming In 2024 |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/racing/f1briefings/news/f1-news-netflix-reveals-major-development-in-ayrton-senna-mini-series-coming-in-2024-sj4 |access-date=2024-02-10 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}

Senna has been referenced by several songwriters:{{Cite web |author=Beatrice W |date=2022-09-21 |title=Top 10 Remarquable Facts about Ayrton Senna |url=https://www.discoverwalks.com/blog/sao-paulo/top-10-remarquable-facts-about-ayrton-senna/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Discover Walks Blog}}{{cite news |last=Pompili |first=Giulia |date=27 April 2014 |title=Il mistico e la belva. Ayrton Senna secondo Lucio Dalla |url=http://www.ilfoglio.it/im-with-the-band/2014/04/27/il-mistico-e-la-belva-ayrton-senna-secondo-lucio-dalla___1-v-90063-blog_c350.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518092743/http://www.ilfoglio.it/im-with-the-band/2014/04/27/il-mistico-e-la-belva-ayrton-senna-secondo-lucio-dalla___1-v-90063-blog_c350.htm |archive-date=18 May 2015 |work=Il Foglio}}

• Portuguese rock band Os Pontos Negros have a song titled "Senna" in their 2012 Soba Lobi album
• Italian rock band The Rock Alchemist's 2012 song "Live or Die" and its accompanying 2018 music video are inspired by the life and character of Senna
• Jazz pianist Kim Pensyl (song called "Senna's Samba")
• Japanese jazz-fusion guitarist and T-square bandleader Masahiro Andoh (references in songs such as "Faces" and subsequent revisions, like "The Face")
• Chris Rea (on his song "Saudade")
• Spanish band Delorean (extended play called Ayrton Senna)
• British acid jazz band Corduroy (song called "Ayrton Senna")
• Italian singer-songwriter Lucio Dalla (song titled "Ayrton").

File:AyrtonSennasFullFaceHelmet.jpg

In his karting days, Senna's helmet consisted of a plain white background with notable features absent. He experimented with several designs to satisfy him, such as a white, yellow, and green helmet,{{cite web|title=Rubens Barrichello shares an early helmet design for Ayrton Senna|url=http://www.anchorfan.com/image/rubens-barrichello-shares-an-early-helmet-design-for-ayrton-senna|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130116215506/http://www.anchorfan.com/image/rubens-barrichello-shares-an-early-helmet-design-for-ayrton-senna|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 January 2013|publisher=Anchor Fan|date=24 October 2011|access-date=16 August 2012}} before settling on a design by Sid Mosca that included a yellow background with a green stripe surrounding the upper visor and a light metallic blue stripe surrounding the lower visor (both stripes are delineated in the other stripe's color) that was first seen in 1979. Mosca also painted helmets for Emerson Fittipaldi and Nelson Piquet.

According to Mosca, the blue and green stripes symbolised movement and aggression, while the overall yellow colour symbolised youth; the three colors were also identifiable with the flag of Brazil. The helmet never had significant changes, apart from sponsorship. One such change was that Senna occasionally altered the stripe from blue to black. The tone of yellow changed a number of times, while usually a rich sunburst yellow, in 1985 and 1986 in some races, he used a fluorescent neon yellow colour. In 1994, the helmet was a lighter, paler yellow to complement the blue and white of the Williams car.

Senna used a number of helmet brands throughout his career. From 1977 to 1989, he used Bell (Star from 1977 to 1982 and XFM-1 from 1983 to 1989). From 1990 to 1991, he used Honda's own Rheos brand. From 1992 to 1993, he used Shoei (X-4). For 1994, he returned to using Bell (M3 Kevlar).{{cite web|title=Remembering Ayrton: That iconic helmet|url=http://richardsf1.com/2011/07/18/remembering-ayrton-that-iconic-helmet/|publisher=richardsf1|date=8 July 2011 |access-date=16 August 2012|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707074936/http://richardsf1.com/2011/07/18/remembering-ayrton-that-iconic-helmet/|archive-date=7 July 2012}} The helmet worn by Senna in the fatal race was returned to Bell in 2002 and was incinerated while family members watched.{{cite magazine|last1=Morrison|first1=Mac|title=The Helmet|magazine=Autoweek|date=28 April 2014 |volume=64|issue=9|page=53}}

File:Bruno Senna demonstrating Lotus 97T 2010 Japan.jpg).]]

Senna's nephew Bruno wore a modified version of his helmet design (a yellow helmet with a green and blue stripe) during his Formula One career. The stripes were shaped after an S rather than being straight, there was a green stripe under the chin, and there was a blue rounded rectangle near the top. Bruno sported a modified helmet design for the final three races of the 2011 season to honour the 20th anniversary of Senna's last world championship.{{cite web|title=Senna wearing special helmet for anniversary |url=http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/269710/senna-wearing-special-helmet-for-anniversary/|publisher=gpupdate.net|date=13 October 2011|access-date=18 August 2012|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201082252/https://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/269710/senna-wearing-special-helmet-for-anniversary/|url-status=live}}

At the 1995 Brazilian Grand Prix, Rubens Barrichello incorporated part of Senna's helmet design into his own.{{cite news |last=Williams|first=Richard|title=Spirit of Senna in the air|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/spirit-of-senna-in-the-air-1613061.html |work=The Independent|date=27 March 1995|access-date=16 August 2012|location=London|archive-date=6 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406163024/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/spirit-of-senna-in-the-air-1613061.html|url-status=live}} As mentioned above, Lewis Hamilton has also worn Senna tribute helmets on several occasions.

Outside of motor racing, Brazilian cyclist Murilo Fischer wore a helmet based on Senna's helmet colour scheme of yellow with green and blue stripes on stage 11 of the 2015 Giro d'Italia, which finished on the Imola circuit.{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/news-shorts-kng-shines-in-the-rain-fischer-honours-senna |title=News Shorts: Küng shines in the rain, Fischer honours Senna |author= |date=22 May 2015 |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=22 May 2015 |archive-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406160725/https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/news-shorts-kng-shines-in-the-rain-fischer-honours-senna/ |url-status=live }} For the 2020 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, Pierre Gasly wore a special helmet with Senna's colours and the Senna Sempre (Senna Forever) badging on top.{{Cite web |last=Collantine |first=Keith |date=2020-10-30 |title=Emilia-Romagna GP helmets: Gasly's Senna replica and Italy tributes |url=https://www.racefans.net/2020/10/30/2020-emilia-romagna-grand-prix-drivers-helmets-gasly-kvyat-norris-giovinazzi-leclerc/ |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=RaceFans}}

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

{{sup|‡}} Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed.

{{sup|†}} Driver did not finish the Grand Prix but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Senna holds the following Formula One driver records:

{{reflist|group=N}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|30em|refs=

{{Cite web |date=1 June 1991 |title=Senna blows his top at Suzuka |website=Autosport |url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/senna-blows-his-top-at-suzuka-5053036/5053036/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207195327/https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/senna-blows-his-top-at-suzuka-5053036/5053036/ |archive-date=7 February 2024 |access-date=8 February 2024}}

{{cite web |last=Galloway |first=James |date=1 May 2014 |title='The world saw him as a McLaren man' – Maurice Hamilton on his new Senna book |website=Sky Sports |url=https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/22058/9291619/the-world-saw-him-as-a-mclaren-man-maurice-hamilton-on-his-new-senna-book |access-date=1 May 2014|archive-date=3 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503014601/https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/22058/9291619/the-world-saw-him-as-a-mclaren-man-maurice-hamilton-on-his-new-senna-book|url-status=live}}

}}

• {{cite book |last1=Collings |first1=Timothy |last2=Edworthy |first2=Sarah |year=2002 |title=The Formula One Years: A Season-by-Season Account of the World's Premier Motor Racing Championship from 1950 to the Present Day |publisher=Carlton Books}}
• {{cite book |last=Hilton |first=Christopher |year=2004 |title=Ayrton Senna: The Whole Story |publisher=Haynes}}
• {{cite book |last=Hilton |first=Christopher |year=2005 |title=Grand Prix century |publisher=Haynes}}
• {{cite book |last1=Hughes |first1=Mark |last2=Arron |first2=Simon |year=2003|title=The Complete Book of Formula One |publisher=Motorbooks International}}
• {{cite book |editor-last=Jones |editor-first=Bruce |year=1999 |title=50 Years of the Formula One World Championship |publisher=Carlton}}
• {{cite book |last1=Ménard |first1=Pierre |last2=Vassal |first2=Jacques |date=2003 |title=Alain Prost: The Science of Racing |series=Formula 1 Legends Series |publisher=Chronosports Editeur |isbn=2-84707-062-1}}
• {{cite book |last=Rubython |first=Tom |year=2004 |title=The Life of Senna}}
• {{Cite book |last=Rubython |first=Tom |year=2005 |title=The Life of Senna: The Biography of Ayrton Senna |publisher=BusinessF1 Books |isbn=9780954685737}}

{{Wikiquote}}

{{commons|Ayrton Senna}}

{{Portal|Biography|Sports}}

• {{Official website|http://www.ayrtonsenna.com.br/en/}} {{in lang|en|pt}}
• [http://www.ayrton-senna.net A Tribute to Life Network – Home of European fans]
• [http://www.ayrton-senna-dasilva.com Ayrton Senna Legacy Matters]
• {{DriverDB driver|ayrton-senna}}
• {{Racing-Reference driver|Ayrton_Senna}}
• {{IMDb name|784389}}
• [http://senna.globo.com/institutoayrtonsenna/ingles/home/index.asp Instituto Ayrton Senna]
• [http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/hall_of_fame/45/ Formula One's Hall of Fame driver profile]
• [https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/20324109 BBC Sport: Formula 1's Greatest Drivers]
• [http://docur.co/documentary/senna-iCY Senna Documentary with Reviews and Discussion]
• [http://www.imolayrton.com Imolayrton]

{{Ayrton Senna}}

{{Navboxes

|title=Ayrton Senna sporting positions

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{{S-start}}

{{S-sports}}

{{Succession box|title=British Formula Ford Champion |before=Roberto Moreno|after=Julian Bailey|years=1981}}

{{Succession box|title=British Formula Three Champion |before=Tommy Byrne|after=Johnny Dumfries|years=1983}}

{{Succession box|title=Macau Grand Prix Winner |before=Roberto Moreno|after=John Nielsen|years=1983}}

{{Succession box|title=Formula One World Champion |before=Nelson Piquet|after= Alain Prost|years={{F1|1988}}}}

{{Succession box|title=Formula One World Champion |before=Alain Prost|after= Nigel Mansell|years={{F1|1990}}–{{F1|1991}}}}

{{s-bef|before=James Hunt}}

{{s-ttl|title=Latest Born F1 Champion To Die | years=1 May 1994 – present}}

{{s-inc}}

{{Succession box|title=Formula One fatal accidents |before=Roland Ratzenberger|after=Jules Bianchi|years= 1 May 1994}}

{{S-ach}}

{{Succession box| before = Nigel Mansell | title = Autosport
International Racing Driver Award | after = Jean Alesi | years = 1988}}

{{Succession box| before = Jean Alesi | title = Autosport
International Racing Driver Award | after = Nigel Mansell | years = 1990–1991}}

{{succession box|title=L'Équipe Champion of Champions|before=Greg LeMond|after=Carl Lewis|years=1990}}

{{S-end}}

{{Formula One World Drivers' Champions}}

{{Formula One drivers from Brazil}}

{{British F3 champions}}

{{Macau Grand Prix winners}}

{{Autosport International Racing Driver Award}}

{{Honda F1}}

{{Williams}}

{{McLaren}}

{{Team Lotus}}

{{Toleman}}

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{{L'Équipe Champion of Champions}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Senna, Ayrton}}

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