It is impossible to beat the tragically dead Ayrton Senna in images, writes Urheilu’s Joel Sippola.
Joel Sippola sports reporter
F1 star Ayrton Senna it’s been 30 years since the death. The legacy of the iconic Brazilian driver still lives on in the world of F1, but with new generations it has taken on new forms.
On social media, tomorrow’s stars like publications about Senna. Super promise Kimi Antonelli remembers the sports legend from time to time in his Instagram Stories section.
The sport’s new followers get a taste of one of the all-time formula drivers on, for example, Instagram and TikTok. On social media, you come across a video from time to time in which you are familiar with Top Gear Jeremy Clarkson also compares Senna to someone who died in a competitive situation to Gilles Villeneuve.
Clarkson, who made a mini-documentary about Senna, states at first that Senna was not his favorite before, but that he considered Villeneuve the driver of all time. The presenter says that he changed his mind after watching the documentary.
– Villeneuve was impressive several times. Senna, on the other hand, was impressive every time he stepped into the car, Clarkson explains the essential difference between the legends.
An iconic position
Having followed sports and formulas for 26 years, my only clear regret is that I was not able to witness that perhaps the most brilliant athlete of his time. I’ve had to settle for other people’s memories and accept that you can’t just ignore Senna.
Senna’s name comes up at the latest when there is a discussion about the best F1 driver of all time. Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost, Lewis Hamilton, Juan Manuel Fangio, Senna. All great options.
However, because of Senna’s story, it is impossible to name the best driver. If you offer Schumacher or Hamilton as the number one player of all time in terms of the greatest success, the proposal will fall on the rocks when Senna comes to mind.
So Senna died 30 years ago in the Imola race. In the difficult Tamburello bend, Senna’s Williams car hit the wall and the 34-year-old Brazilian died instantly from his injuries.
Senna is undoubtedly one of the most talented drivers of all time, who already dazzled in his opening season with a mediocre Toleman car.
It is still bold to claim that Senna was somehow particularly exceptional as a driver compared to the stars of recent years, Hamilton and to Max Verstappen compared to. However, the tragic end made Senna an iconic figure that is impossible to beat in Formula 1.
Different era, same attitude
Although Senna is a memory, his legacy still sparkles on F1 tracks. Senna was a genuine old league driver who seriously loved racing. That’s why he put the helmet on his head for Sunday’s race in Imola, even though his mind burned the day before in qualifying by Ronald Ratzenberger destiny.
Max Verstappen’s Senna-like attitude, where driving is at the center of everything, is best seen among modern drivers. The Dutchman, who is overwhelmingly dominating the series at the moment, does not really enjoy the current direction of the Formula Ones, which has gone even more clearly to the side of the show.
Many were excited how last season F1 was brought to Las Vegas and the center of the massive framework. However, Verstappen took a different position.
Liberty Media, which manages the commercial rights of the series, and Netflix’s Taistelu palupisätsi series have brought a lot of fans to the sport, for whom the racing itself and the history of the series are secondary issues.
– Of course I understand the fans. They need something to do around the track, but I think it’s more important to get them to understand what we do in this sport. Many of them come to party, have a drink or watch a DJ show. I can do it anywhere in the world. They don’t understand what we do and put into the game, Verstappen criticized at the press conference.
Verstappen added that he prefers to drive at old-time tracks like Monza and Spa.
– When I was a child, I fell in love with the emotions in sports, not the show. For a true competitor, performance shouldn’t matter, Verstappen charged.
I’m sure Senna would have loved this speech from a true racing driver.