Senna, like many racing drivers throughout history, came from an affluent family that was able to sponsor his endeavors as he climbed up the racing ladder on his way from karting to the pinnacle of motorsport. However, unlike many racers with deep pockets of the era and today, it was Senna’s raw talent and skill that earned him rides at Lotus, McLaren, and eventually Williams after graduating from the entry-level Toleman F1 team.

Ayrton Senna Grand Prix

His 10-year-long career in Formula 1 was characterized by many impressive performances, most of them courtesy of Senna’s incredible car control and ability to drive an average race car way beyond its limits. From breaking track records around the globe to winning more than 40 F1 races and earning the title of “rain master” due to his uncanny bravery in the wet, Senna accomplished it all. That being said, one of his greatest accomplishments was earning a staggering 65 pole positions, a record that stood for 12 years until Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher ironically earned his 66th career pole at Imola—the same track where Senna died.

A wide variety of books, documentaries, and even blockbuster movies have been made about Senna, perhaps more than any other driver in Formula 1’s 69-year history, successfully elevating the Brazilian’s status to God-like level among racing enthusiasts. Throughout the ’90s in his home country of Brazil, it wasn’t uncommon to hear of people “praying” to Senna about their needs and wants as if he were a holy being. To this day, Senna’s favorite soccer team still honors him at jam-packed Brazilian stadiums by chanting his last name before matches, schools teach about Senna’s life and racing career to pupils, and even local airlines have painted fleets of jets in the famous yellow and green colors of Senna’s iconic racing helmet.

Senna, by Asif Kapadia debuted in 2010 and brought the life of the racing legend to big screens across the globe. Film, photographs, and documents curated by members of the Senna family along with other friends and colleagues made for an excellent behind-the-scenes look of the icon’s short life.

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