FORMULA ONE DRIVER WORLD CHAMPIONS - THE GREATS
Ayrton Senna
Ayrton Senna da Silva was born on March 21st 1960. An infatuation for a miniature go-kart his father gave him when he was four years old, sparked a flame in this young-talented Brazilian that took him to the very pinnacle of Motorsport.
At 13 he raced a kart for the first time and immediately won. Eight years later he went single-seater racing in Britain, where in three years he won five championships, by which time he had divorced his young wife and forsaken a future in his father's businesses in favour of pursuing success in Formula One racing, where he made his debut with Toleman in 1984.
Senna only had one season with the Toleman team, as he decided that their limited resources were inadequate for his towering ambition, he bought out his contract, and in 1985 moved to the Lotus team, where in three seasons he started from pole 16 times and won six races.
Having reaching the limits of Lotus he decided his next step would be with McLaren, where he went in 1988 and stayed for six seasons, winning 35 races and three famous World Championship, in 1988, 1990 and 1991.
In 1988, Senna beat his team mate Alain Prost eight wins to seven to take his first driving title. Thereafter, both drivers became protagonists in one of the most infamous feuds ever seen in Formula One history.
In 1989 Prost took the title, with a cheaters sneaky move, by taking Senna out at the Suzuka chicane! In 1990 Senna extracted revenge at The same circuit, winning his second Championship by taking out Prost's Ferrari at Suzuka's first corner.
Senna's third title in 1991, was straightforward as his domination as a driver became even more pronounced, as did his obsession with becoming better still. Some of his greatest performances came in his final year with McLaren, following which he moved to Williams for the ill-fated 1994 season.
On May 1, 1994, in the San Marino Grand Prix, he was leading the race when his Williams inexplicably speared off the Imola track and collided head-on, in to the concrete wall at Tamburello corner. Millions saw it happen live on television, but were only aware of the tragic fatality later, after the race.
The world mourned his passing and his state funeral in Sao Paulo was attended by many members of the shocked Formula One community. Among the several drivers escorting the coffin was Alain Prost. Also among the sad mourners was Frank Williams, who said: 'Ayrton was no ordinary person. He was actually a greater man out of the car than in it.'
At 13 he raced a kart for the first time and immediately won. Eight years later he went single-seater racing in Britain, where in three years he won five championships, by which time he had divorced his young wife and forsaken a future in his father's businesses in favour of pursuing success in Formula One racing, where he made his debut with Toleman in 1984.
Senna only had one season with the Toleman team, as he decided that their limited resources were inadequate for his towering ambition, he bought out his contract, and in 1985 moved to the Lotus team, where in three seasons he started from pole 16 times and won six races.
Having reaching the limits of Lotus he decided his next step would be with McLaren, where he went in 1988 and stayed for six seasons, winning 35 races and three famous World Championship, in 1988, 1990 and 1991.
In 1988, Senna beat his team mate Alain Prost eight wins to seven to take his first driving title. Thereafter, both drivers became protagonists in one of the most infamous feuds ever seen in Formula One history.
In 1989 Prost took the title, with a cheaters sneaky move, by taking Senna out at the Suzuka chicane! In 1990 Senna extracted revenge at The same circuit, winning his second Championship by taking out Prost's Ferrari at Suzuka's first corner.
Senna's third title in 1991, was straightforward as his domination as a driver became even more pronounced, as did his obsession with becoming better still. Some of his greatest performances came in his final year with McLaren, following which he moved to Williams for the ill-fated 1994 season.
On May 1, 1994, in the San Marino Grand Prix, he was leading the race when his Williams inexplicably speared off the Imola track and collided head-on, in to the concrete wall at Tamburello corner. Millions saw it happen live on television, but were only aware of the tragic fatality later, after the race.
The world mourned his passing and his state funeral in Sao Paulo was attended by many members of the shocked Formula One community. Among the several drivers escorting the coffin was Alain Prost. Also among the sad mourners was Frank Williams, who said: 'Ayrton was no ordinary person. He was actually a greater man out of the car than in it.'
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