Ayrton Senna died tragically on May 1, 1994. Passionate about racing from a young age, he began his career in karting. He then made his debut in Formula 1 in 1984 with the Toleman team. Talented and determined, he quickly attracted attention by directing impressive performance.
The Formula 1 driver experienced a dazzling success when he joined McLaren in 1988. He won three of its world titles (1988, 1990 and 1991) and established a legendary rivalry with French driver Alain Prost. Beyond his success on the track, Ayrton Senna was also known for his passion and dedication to his native land: Brazil!
The tragic death of Ayrton Senna
The tragic and sudden death of the pilot in 1994 in Imola, Italy shocked many people. That day, at 6:37 p.m., Doctor Maria Theresa Fiandri announced what the world of motorsport feared most. The death of Ayrton Senna.
The Brazilian pilot died instantly. This tragedy has forever shaken up Formula 1 at the end of a deadly weekend.
During the 1994 season, “Ayrton Senna was the only big star qwho remained”, assured Jean-Louis Moncet, former Formula 1 commentator on TF1. And to continue: “Michael Schumacher was not yet in the F1 star system. Alain Prost had just left him.”
“He is part of the history of sport”
After his death, he also left an immense heritageboth on a sporting and social level. He has been involved in charitable work, particularly helping underprivileged children in Brazil. The Ayrton Senna Foundation continues to support the education and development of children in Brazil. “He is part of sports historyand history in general, because of what they represented”, explained Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
This tragedy forced the leaders of the discipline to review the safety of the Imola circuit and in F1. The straights were notably shortened. The clearance zones on dangerous bends have also been enlarged. In fact, the power of the engines has been revised downwards.
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