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Ayrton Senna: 18 years but never forgotten

I can’t remember the first F1 race that I saw. I recall them being on, mainly in the background as I grew up. It was my godfather who was the main F1 influence on me, when we would go and visit him the races were always on the TV and I remember sitting with him as one race was on and he said “You have to watch Senna”, he never pointed him out but I could see which driver he meant. I was mesmerised.

My attention was on him. The way he was driving, the determination, the precision. I started watching more. I was intent on watching Senna. He had got my attention. I was willing and shouting at him to win, to cross the finish line beating the other drivers.

The weekend of the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994 had already started sadly with Ronald Ratzenberger’s death in qualifying. I had thought the race would be postponed or cancelled, I never at this point thought the race would actually happen. But it did.

On the 1st of May 1994, the day of the San Marino Grand Prix it was my 13th birthday. I was becoming a teenager. The turning of age birthday. The race was on but I was having laughs with my family when disaster was happening on the TV. My Dad had gone to look and he said there had been an accident and it didn’t look good. Cake became the distraction but I knew it was serious.

Later on the news my fears were realised. Ayrton Senna had died. My birthday faded deep into the background. The next day more news reports and seeing the newspapers made it more real. I can’t believe it was 18 years ago.

With the “Senna” documentary helping us all to remember what a driving genius he was it makes the time seem shorter. I’ve watched F1 constantly since Senna’s death, my obsession with the sport started. I know that this weekend is etched on every F1’s fans minds and hearts. I had believed back then that Senna was indestructible, actually I was probably so naive to think anyone was. I had that shook out of me in devastating form when Senna died.

People aren’t indestructible but more so I learnt that people live on long after they have gone. Senna will always be my favourite F1 driver without question and still now when I see a Senna’esque move in a race I’ll smile.

18 years but never forgotten.

Ayrton Senna da Silva 21 March 1960 – 1 May 1994

Written by Sarah (@blissbubbley)