Ayrton Senna

Brazilian Formula 1 racing driver widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time, winning three World Championships before his tragic death in 1994

Ayrton Senna da Silva was born in São Paulo in 1960 and became the most naturally gifted racing driver in Formula 1 history — a consensus shared across the sport among those who observed, competed against and analysed his career. He drove for Toleman (1984), Lotus (1985–1987), McLaren (1988–1993) and Williams (1994). He won 3 World Championships — 1988, 1990 and 1991 — all with McLaren. He took 65 pole positions from 161 starts — a pole position rate of 40.4% that remains the highest in the sport's history. He won 41 Grand Prix. He scored 80 podiums and 614 career points. His qualifying laps — particularly at Monaco, where he claimed pole 5 consecutive times — are studied as examples of a driver capable of performance beyond the apparent limits of his car. His Monaco 1984 lap in the rain while leading by 40 seconds before a red flag, his genius lap at Donnington in the 1993 European Grand Prix, and his mastery of wet conditions make him the definitive driver in adverse weather. His rivalry with Alain Prost — his McLaren teammate in 1988 and 1989 — included deliberate collisions at consecutive championship-deciding races. He was killed at the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola on 1 May 1994, hitting a concrete wall at approximately 130 mph. He was 34. His death contributed to fundamental safety improvements that have protected many subsequent drivers.

Aggressive, precise, exceptional in wet conditions

Considered one of greatest F1 drivers ever, died at Imola 1994

• F1 World Champion 1988, 1990, 1991 (McLaren)
• 65 pole positions (record at time of death)
• 40.4% pole position rate (record)
• 41 race wins
• Killed at San Marino Grand Prix 1994
• Greatest wet-weather driver in F1 history