Newly released Netflix drama Senna covers the life and career of legendary Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna, from his rise to three F1 World Championships to his tragic death in 1994.
Ayrton Senna is hailed as one of the greatest racers in history, thanks to his aggressive driving style that led him to clinch three F1 World Championships, 41 wins, 65 pole positions, 19 fastest laps, and 80 podiums.
The six-part series on chronicles his journey from his early karting days, his monumental successes in F1, and the circumstances leading up to his fatal crash at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola on May 1, 1994.
While racing for Williams, Senna crashed into the barrier at Tamburello corner on lap seven. Despite receiving extensive medical treatment and being airlifted to hospital, he succumbed to his severe injuries.
That same weekend witnessed two other serious incidents that cast a shadow over the race weekend and spurred major safety improvements in F1. The first was a severe crash by Jordan driver Rubens Barrichello, who was knocked unconscious when his car rolled after a high-speed crash during Friday practice, reports .
Williams Boss Frank Williams with Ayrton Senna at a testing event in Estoril ahead of the 1994 F1 season (Image: Mike Hewitt/Allsport)
Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger was also killed in a crash during qualifying, making it all the more astonishing that the race weekend continued as planned.
Senna only portrays what transpired in the crash and the immediate aftermath, but what happened after his crash and what changes were introduced to Formula 1?
What happened after the crash?
Medics surround Ayrton Senna’s crashed Williams F1 car at Imola 1994 (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Senna was leading the San Marino GP, ahead of Benneton driver Michael Schumacher when the safety car retreated into the pit lane.
Upon resuming the race, the Brazilian crashed into the barrier at a speed of 131mph at Tamburello corner after veering off the track at 192mph.
The high-impact collision ripped off the front-right wheel and nose cone of his Williams FW16, causing Senna’s head to jerk back into the headrest, resulting in a fractured skull.
The front-right wheel hit Senna’s helmet, and parts of the suspension and upright assembly also pierced through. Senna suffered three major injuries, each of which could have been fatal on its own.
Although there was slight movement from Senna’s head post-crash, it was evident that he was seriously injured. Medical staff rushed to the scene and provided immediate medical assistance.
Neurosurgeon Sid Watkins performed an emergency tracheotomy to secure an airway, cleared the respiratory passages, stemmed the blood flow, replaced lost blood and immobilised the cervical area.
Senna was then transported to Maggiore Hospital via helicopter, where he was immediately taken into intensive care. Meanwhile, the race resumed 37 minutes after his catastrophic crash.
Senna’s heart ceased beating shortly after 3pm local time. Although doctors managed to restart it once, they decided against doing so when it stopped again at 6.37pm.
Around 7pm, the world received the tragic news of Ayrton Senna’s death.
Ayrton Senna died in a crash at the Imola circuit in Italy 30 years ago (Image: Getty Images)
Senna’s state funeral in Brazil
Ayrton Senna’s funeral in 1994 with pallbearers and former team mates Alain Prost and Gerhard Berger (Image: Mirrorpix)
The Brazilian government declared a three-day mourning period following the tragic death of the driver. On May 5, an estimated three million people lined the streets of Sao Paulo for his funeral, paying their respects to Senna and mourning the loss of a national hero.
The funeral was attended by many notable figures from the world of motor racing and was broadcast live on Brazilian television.
In the subsequent Monaco race, the FIA left the first two grid positions vacant, painting them in the colours of the Brazilian and Austrian flags as a tribute to Senna and Ratzenberger. A moment of silence was also observed by the drivers in memory of their fallen colleagues.
Driver Sebastian Vettel holds the Austrian and Brazilian flags in tribute to Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna (Image: Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Retired F1 World Champion Niki Lauda announced the reformation of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) at the same Monaco race. He, along with other drivers, would advocate for enhanced safety measures in the sport, becoming a significant voice within the FIA.
Immediate changes were implemented for the Spanish GP and Canadian GP, with further improvements including better crash barriers, redesigned tracks and tyre barriers.
The cars themselves also saw enhancements – higher sills were installed on the driver cockpit, and a limit was imposed on 3-litre engines.
Over the years, more safety improvements have been introduced to minimise the number of severe crashes in F1. Since Senna’s death on the track, there has only been one more fatal crash in F1 – Jules Bianchi at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.
Formula 1 is stepping up its safety game for both drivers and spectators with the introduction of the Halo in the cockpit and the virtual safety car.