Ayrton Senna

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is *Senna* and the second or paternal family name is *Silva*.

## Driver Information

### Born

21 March 1960
São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

## Formula One Career Statistics

### Previous teams

Toleman (1984)
Lotus (1985–1987)
McLaren (1988–1989)
Ferrari (1990–1992)

### 1993 position

2nd (28 pts)

**Ayrton Senna da Silva** (Portuguese: *eye-**AIR**-ton*; English: ***AIR**-ton*; born 21 March 1960) is a Brazilian racing driver who who won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 1988 and 1990. Senna is one of three Formula One drivers from Brazil to win the World Championship, and has won the second most Grands Prix in history. Senna has won races for four different constructors: Lotus, McLaren, Ferrari, and his current team, Williams, a record bettered only by Stirling Moss (who won for five different constructors).

Senna is widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport and has become an icon of Brazil. Senna is recognised for his qualifying speed over one lap, and in his 1988 World Drivers' Championship-winning campaign, Senna set the unprecedented record of starting every race on pole position. Senna is also acclaimed for his wet weather performances, such as the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix and the 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix.

## Early life and career

Senna was born at 2:35 a.m. (05:35 GMT) on Monday, 21 March 1960, in the Pro-Matre Maternity Hospital of Santana, a neighbourhood of São Paulo. The middle child of a wealthy Brazilian family, he was born to land owner and factory owner Milton Guirado da Silva, and his wife, Neide Senna da Silva; he has an older sister, Viviane, and a younger brother, Leonardo. He is left-handed. Senna's mother is the granddaughter of Italian immigrants, while his father was born to a Spanish mother (from Tíjola, Province of Almería) and a Brazilian father from São Paulo.

The house where Senna spent the first four years of his life belonged to Neide's father, João Senna. It was located on the corner of Avenida Aviador Guilherme with Avenida Gil Santos Dumont, less than 100 meters from Campo de Marte, a large area where they operated the Aeronautics Material park and an airport. The young Senna was highly athletic, excelling in gymnastics and other sports, and developed an interest in cars and motor racing at the age of four. However, as a small boy, he had poor motor coordination and had trouble climbing stairways by the age of three. An electroencephalogram (EEG) was unremarkable (i.e. showed no abnormalities). Senna's parents nicknamed him "Beco". At the age of seven, Senna first learned to drive a Jeep around his family's farm and also how to change gears without using a clutch.

Senna attended Colegio Rio Branco in the São Paulo neighbourhood of Higienópolis and graduated in 1977 with a grade 5 in physics along with other grades in mathematics, chemistry, and English. He later enrolled in a college that specialised in business administration, but dropped out after three months. Overall, his grades amounted up to 68%.

Senna's first kart was built by his father using a small 1-HP lawnmower engine. Senna started racing at Interlagos and entered a karting competition at the age of 13. He started his first race on pole position, facing rivals who were some years older than him; despite this, he managed to lead most of the race before retiring after colliding with a rival. His father supported his son and Lucio Pascal Gascon soon managed the developing talent.

Senna went on to win the South American Kart Championship in 1977. He contested the Karting World Championship each year from 1978 to 1982, finishing runner-up in 1979 and 1980. In 1978, he was the teammate of Terry Fullerton, from whom Senna later felt was the rival he got the most satisfaction racing against also because of the lack of money and politics at that level.

In 1981, Senna moved to Eaton near Norwich in England to begin single-seater racing, winning the RAC and Townsend Thoresen Formula Ford 1600 Championships that year with the Van Diemen team.

Despite this, Senna initially did not believe he would continue in motorsport. At the end of that season, under pressure from his parents to take up a role in the family business, Senna announced his retirement from Formula Ford and returned to Brazil. Before leaving England, however, Senna was offered a drive with a Formula Ford 2000 team for £10,000. Back in Brazil, he decided to take this offer and returned to live in England. As da Silva is the most common Brazilian surname, he adopted his mother's maiden name, Senna. Senna went on to win the 1982 British and European Formula Ford 2000 championships. For that season, Senna arrived with sponsorship from Banerj and Pool.

In 1983, Senna drove in the British Formula Three Championship for the West Surrey Racing team. He dominated the first half of the season until Martin Brundle, driving a similar car for Eddie Jordan Racing, closed the gap in the second part of the championship. Senna won the title at the final round after a closely fought and, at times, acrimonious battle with the Briton. In November that year, Senna also triumphed at the inaugural Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix with Teddy Yip's Toyota-powered Theodore Racing Team.

## Formula One

### Toleman (1984)

In 1983, Senna tested for Formula One teams Williams, McLaren, Brabham, and Toleman. Peter Warr of Lotus, Ron Dennis of McLaren, and Bernie Ecclestone of Brabham made offers for testing in 1984 and presented long-term contracts that tied Senna to driving later on. During his test for Williams at the 3.149 km (1.957 mi) Donington Park circuit, Senna completed 40 laps and was quicker than the other drivers, including Williams's reigning World Champion Keke Rosberg. Neither Williams or McLaren had a vacancy for the 1984 season. Both Williams boss Frank Williams and McLaren boss Ron Dennis noted that Senna insisted that he got to run their cars before anyone else (other than their regular drivers such as Rosberg) so that he would have the best chance of a good showing by having a fresh car.

Peter Warr actually wanted to replace Nigel Mansell with Senna at Lotus, but their British-based title sponsor, Imperial Tobacco (John Player & Sons), wanted a British driver. Senna, however, was determined to drive that season and certainly on his own terms. Senna's test for Brabham occurred at Circuit Paul Ricard in November 1983. Senna impressed the Brabham team and was linked to their second seat. However, the team's main sponsor, Italian dairy company Parmalat, wanted an Italian driver. Brabham's second car was eventually shared by brothers Teo and Corrado Fabi, while Nelson Piquet convinced Ecclestone to sign his friend Roberto Moreno as the test driver. Consequently, Senna joined Toleman, a relatively new team, using less competitive Pirelli tyres. Venezuelan Johnny Cecotto, a former Grand Prix motorcycle racing world champion, was his teammate. In 1984, Senna hired Nuno Cobra to assess his physical condition due to his concern over his low weight.

Senna made his debut at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Rio de Janeiro, where he qualified 17th, but retired when the Hart 415T turbocharger failed on lap 8. He scored his first World Championship point when he finished 6th in his second race at the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami with severe cramp in his neck and shoulders, and replicated that result two weeks later at the Belgian Grand Prix.

A combination of tyre issues and a fuel-pressure problem resulted in his failure to qualify for the San Marino Grand Prix, the only time this happened during his career. Toleman decided not to run both cars during Friday qualifying at Imola due to a dispute with tyre supplier Pirelli (Toleman were in the process of switching from Pirelli to Michelin). Senna then suffered a fuel-pressure problem in the wet Saturday session at Tosa (the furthest point on the circuit from the pits) and did not have enough time for it to be fixed to allow him to make the grid. Senna's best result of the season came at the Monaco Grand Prix, the first wet-weather race of the season. Qualifying 13th on the grid, he made steady progress in climbing through the field, passing Niki Lauda for second on lap 19. He quickly began to cut the gap to race leader Alain Prost, but before he could attack Prost, the race was stopped on lap 31 for safety reasons, as the rain had grown even heavier. At the time the race was stopped, Senna was catching Prost by about 4 seconds per lap (while the Tyrrell-Ford of Stefan Bellof was catching both at the same rate, although he was later disqualified due to weight restrictions broken by Tyrrell).

Senna took two more podium finishes—third at the British and Portuguese Grands Prix—and placed 9th in the Drivers' Championship with 13 points overall. He did not take part in the Italian Grand Prix after he was suspended by Toleman for being in breach of his contract by entering talks with Lotus for 1985 without informing the Toleman team first. Although Senna did have a £100,000 buyout clause in his contract, the team had to be informed before discussions with another team started. Senna became the first driver Lotus had signed not personally chosen by team founder Colin Chapman, who had died in 1982.

At the end of the year, Senna developed Bell's palsy, possibly from a virus. One side of his face had become completely paralysed; Sid Watkins gave Senna steroids to preserve the possibility of recovery.

### Lotus (1985–1987)

#### 1985

Senna was partnered in his first year at Lotus-Renault by Italian driver Elio de Angelis. He had dominated testing times at Rio, although he retired with electrical issues during the race weekend. Although the Renault-powered Lotus 97T was quick and nimble, particularly on tight and bumpy circuits and perhaps had the best suspension of any car that year, the car was unreliable and Senna made a few mistakes out of inexperience. At the second round of the season, the Portuguese Grand Prix, Senna took the first pole position of his Formula 1 career. He converted it into his first victory in the race, which was held in very wet conditions, winning by over a minute from Michele Alboreto in the Ferrari and lapping everyone up to and including 3rd placed Patrick Tambay. The race was the first 'Grand Slam' of Senna's career, as he also set the fastest lap of the race. He would later argue it was the best drive of his career, an opinion shared by race engineer Steve Hallam, who recognised Senna's "truly special" talent.

Senna led at the San Marino, Monaco, British and German Grands Prix but retired from all these races either from engine failure or running out of fuel, and he had a huge accident at the French Grand Prix at the Circuit Paul Ricard's fastest corner after an engine failure in the middle of the corner. He did not finish in the points again until coming second at the Austrian Grand Prix, despite taking pole three more times in the intervening period. (His determination to take pole at the Monaco Grand Prix had infuriated Alboreto and Niki Lauda; Senna had set a fast time early and was accused of deliberately baulking the other drivers by running more laps than necessary, a charge he rejected, though the accusations continued in Canada when drivers accused him of running on the racing line when on his slow down lap forcing others on qualifiers to move off line and lose time).

Two more podiums followed in the Netherlands and Italy, before Senna added his second victory in wet-dry conditions, at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. Senna's relationship with De Angelis soured over the season, as both drivers demanded top driver status within Lotus and, after spending six years at the team, De Angelis departed for Brabham at the end of the year, convinced that Lotus were becoming focused around the Brazilian driver. Senna and De Angelis finished the season 4th and 5th respectively in the driver rankings, separated by five points. In terms of qualifying, however, Senna had begun to establish himself as the quickest in the field: his tally of seven poles that season was far more than that of any of the other drivers (Renault's V6 qualifying engines were reported to be producing over 1,000 bhp (746 kW; 1,014 PS).

#### 1986

De Angelis was replaced at Lotus by Scotland's Johnny Dumfries after Senna vetoed Derek Warwick from joining the team, saying that Lotus could not run competitive cars for two top drivers at the same time. Senna allegedly pushed for his former flatmate and fellow Brazilian Maurício Gugelmin to join the team as a pure number two driver, but the team's major sponsor Imperial Tobacco (John Player & Sons) insisted on a British driver, which led to the signing of Dumfries. Senna later admitted "It was bad, bad. Until then I had a good relationship with Derek." Senna started the season well, coming second in Brazil behind the Williams-Honda of fellow countryman Piquet, and winning the Spanish Grand Prix by just 0.014s from Piquet's teammate Mansell in one of the closest finishes in Formula One history to find himself leading the World Championship after two races.

Although the 98T was like the 97T which came before it, a quick car with superiority on tight, bumpy circuits but plagued with poor reliability, particularly in the second half of the season it saw him drift behind the Williams pairing of Mansell and Piquet as well as defending and eventual champion, Prost. Nonetheless, Senna was once more the top qualifier with eight poles, with a further six podium finishes included another win at the Detroit Grand Prix, thus finishing the season fourth in the driver's standings again, with a total of 55 points. The 1986 F1 cars were the most powerful cars in history, with Senna's 98T producing over 1,300 bhp (969 kW; 1,318 PS) in qualifying and 850 bhp (634 kW; 862 PS) in the race.

After winning the Detroit Grand Prix from Frenchmen Prost and Jacques Laffite⁠ — which took place one day after Brazil was eliminated from the 1986 FIFA World Cup by France⁠ — Senna asked a trackside supporter for the Brazilian flag and he drove one lap waving it. Thereafter, he repeated this ritual every time he won a race. During an interview on American television, he used English curse words to express his frustration at having to go into the pits earlier than expected due to a deflating rear tire. Senna also had a brief foray into rallying when he was invited by British magazine *Cars & Car Conversions* to try out a Vauxhall Nova, an MG Metro 6R4, a Ford Sierra RS Cosworth and a Ford Escort on a stretch of land closed to the public.

#### 1987

Team Lotus had a new engine deal in 1987, running the same turbocharged Honda V6 engines as Williams had used to win the previous year's Constructors' Championship, and with them came a new teammate, 34-year-old Japanese driver, Satoru Nakajima, who was a test driver employed directly by Honda. The team guaranteed Senna contractually preferential treatment over Nakajima in the allocation of equipment. Senna was hopeful of a title challenge securing and by the German Grand Prix he was third in the standings, just 10 points behind the leader Mansell on 41 points, taking 2 wins at the Belgian Grand Prix and Austrian Grand Prix. However, his performances tailed off for the rest of the season and Prost would go on a remarkable run of form with 5 consecutive wins to secure the 1987 Formula One World Championship. Senna became dissatisfied with his chances at Lotus and at Monza it was announced that he would be joining McLaren for 1988. A second at the season finale was little consultation and Senna finished a disappointing season in 4th in the standings, finishing on 53 points with 2 wins and 7 podiums.

### McLaren (1988–1989)

#### 1988

In 1988, due to the relationship he had built up with Honda throughout the 1987 season with Lotus, and with the approval of McLaren's number-one driver Prost, Senna joined the McLaren team. The foundation for a fierce competition between Senna and Prost was laid, culminating in a number of dramatic race incidents between the two over the next two years. However, the experienced pair also quickly realized, despite their personal rivalry, they had to work together, especially in testing, to keep ahead of their main opposition from Ferrari, Williams, Benetton and Lotus.

The season opener would see Senna secure the first of a clean sweep of pole positions in the 1988 season, but the race would not go according to plan and fellow Brazilian Piquet would win the season opening Brazilian Grand Prix for Senna's former Lotus team. Senna would secure his first win at round three at the European Grand Prix, the inaugural race at the Birmingham Superprix. Tensions would flare at the next round at Monaco, where a fast starting Prost jumped pole siting Senna to lead into the first corner and an over ambitious Piquet would attempt to take second at the Lowes Hairpin only to take out both himself and Senna, ending their race. Senna would rebound in impressive style, securing 4 wins in a row, including 3 'Grand Slams'.

There would be a further 4 'Grand Slam' wins in the season and Senna would secure his first Formula One World Championship title at the penultimate round at the Japanese Grand Prix, with a lights to flag victory, as Prost could only manage 7th. The season finale at the Australian Grand Prix was a study in Senna's patience and opportunity, losing the lead to Prost at the start, but calmly biding his time and waiting for the opportunity to take back the lead. It would come late on in the race as the leaders came up to the back of Joey Davies, seeking to lap the Briton, who was fighting to get back into the points. Davies defended hard against Prost, eventually forcing him into an error and giving Senna the opportunity to win, concluding an astonishing season for Senna and cementing his record as one of the greats. The season concluded with Senna finishing 1st in the standings on 93 points (89 contributing to the Championship), with 9 wins (including 8 'Grand Slams'), 12 podiums and 16 poles.

#### 1989

For 1989, the rivalry between Senna and Prost intensified into numerous battles on the track and a psychological war off it. Some controversy also arose after the French Grand Prix press conference when Ron Dennis declared that they found consistent differences between the Honda engines from Prost and Senna, to the detriment of Senna. Tension and mistrust between the two drivers increased when Senna overtook Prost as he battled Davies in the early laps of the San Marino Grand Prix, a move which Prost claimed violated a pre-race agreement (Senna denied the existence of any agreement, though Prost's story was backed up by John Hogan of the team's major sponsor, Marlboro). A discussion between the two drivers and Dennis during a test session at Pembrey Circuit served to effectively confirm Senna and Prost's personal animosity to Dennis and the team. Senna and Prost traded first place in the championship in the early rounds of the season with victories at Birmingham, the USA and France. The battle continued for the rest of the season with both men trading the lead in the championship.

However, the relationship between Senna and McLaren was continuing to decline and ahead of the Italian Grand Prix Senna shocked the paddock by announcing he would be driving for Ferrari for 1990. He would instantly become a favourite of the *Tifosi* by going on to win the Grand Prix, beating Prost to the chequered flag. While leading the championship, Senna's form would drop off dramatically, leading him to accuse McLaren of giving preference to Prost, At the Japanese Grand Prix Prost would secure an impressive win, after Senna was forced to make a late pitstop for a new front wing, while leading the race. With failing to secure the win, Prost secured the 1989 World Championship. Following the Japanese Grand Prix where Senna finished in 7th he outright accused McLaren of hampering his race and endangering him, by affecting the balance of the car.

> *"I have to say, during my first stop I asked the team for more downforce on the front wing, but when I exited I noticed I didn't have more downforce, but less. They put me out on track with a car that was now dangerously unstable and I think is was perhaps a miracle that I was able to control the car as long as I did. I told the team the car was unstable and needed to pit but the told me to stay out as I would loss position. I told them to have a front wing ready for me if I had to come in. Of course eventually I made a small error and sustained wing damage, but amazingly I was right beside the pitlane and went right into the pits. I expected they would be ready with the front wing but when i got to the garage they didn't seem to be expecting me and I couldn't believe what was going on. Ron didn't even turn around to see what was going on, almost as if he knew already what was happening."*
>
>

> *"Honestly, I'm sad for the fans here, I have a lot of fans in Japan and I always want to do my best for the Japanese fans and Honda. But you know it's not just that because the team are responsible for giving me a safe car to drive. That car today was dangerous to drive and I should have retired it when I knew they had adjusted the wing wrong, it was the kind of mistake you would only see in karting. If the same thing happens in Australia I will be retiring the car straight away, no race is worth risking my life for. But if it does happen again I will be going straight to JB because that is just not acceptable in this sport, we are not expendable that our lives should be put at risk like this just because they would rather their favourite win… I think I have said enough on this matter, I will say no more on the matter."*
>
>

Following these remarks the McLaren pit crew refused to work on Senna's race car during first practice at the Australian Grand Prix. It was only after much persuasion by Ron Dennis that the team would work on Senna's car. Coming out of the meeting with Dennis one unnamed mechanic was reported to have said,

> *"Honestly, I haven't a clue what Ron was on about there, but I just agreed to get out of there. I couldn't listen to him go on anymore. Talk about Ron-Speak!"*
>
>

Despite the tense atmosphere in the garage, Senna would put his McLaren on pole and drove hard to take the win, securing him equal points to Prost overall, and just one point behind from the 11 best results. Senna would finish 2nd in the standings with 5 wins, 11 podiums and 4 poles.

### Ferrari (1990–1992)

#### 1990

For 1990, Senna was at Ferrari and had promised he would return the Scuderia to winning ways and get them their first drivers title since 1979. For this season he would be partnered by Gerhard Berger, a close friend of the Brazilian. Senna would immediately impress and while many believed McLaren would again comfortably win the championship, Senna would secure pole at the season opener at Road America. The next round would be the Brazilian Grand Prix at Autódromo José Carlos Pace. Senna would again take pole for Ferrari and despite a spirited challenge from Martin Brundle, he would win his first Brazilian Grand Prix after 7 attempts. A clearly emotional Senna was barely able to believe he had finally secured a win at home, speaking after the race he pointed to this as the highlight of his career.

> *"Well I cannot believe it, it… it's just truly my happiest day in this sport. There are no words for how I feel right now. I have to say that the fans were unbelievable. I could hear them at the chequered flag. You do hear the fans at this race and I remember hearing the fans at Monza last year but this was something else, they drowned out the sound of the car even in the cockpit. Honestly though, the fan have done so much for me and I am truly grateful to them for always being there for me. I have to thank the team too, to win your home race with Ferrari is just so special, it just… it just* [Senna's voice breaks and he holds his head in his hands as Brundle puts arm around Senna] *Thank you Martin… I don't know what to say, today I truly feel like I have a new family… an Italian… I hope Enzo would be proud of us today. I hope… no, I know he's smiling… [Senna weeps again] Thank you everyone, thank you, thank you, thank you. Obrigado família, obrigado Deus, ah Deus, obrigado"*
>
>

Senna would take the lead in the championship and would not relinquish it for the rest of the season. Between the Mexican Grand Prix and Italian Grand Prix he would not stand on the top step only once, finishing second at the French Grand Prix. The Italian Grand Prix would see him convert pole to the win. For the first and only time in his career he would wave an Italian flag instead of a Brazilian flag after the race victory. At the following race at Circuito de Jerez, Senna would win the title for Ferrari, coming home in second, ahead of his main rival Piquet in third. There would be three retirements after securing the title and for a time the Constructors Championship looked in doubt, but Senna would not let these results dampen his spirits and despite these retirements Senna would regularly be seen in the midst of a swarm of Ferrari fans, signing autographs and having pictures taken with his fans. As the Constructors Championship went down to the wire at the Australian Grand Prix, Senna would return to his form from earlier in the year with an impressive victory ahead of Mansell and Herbert. The season concluded with Senna finishing 1st in the standings on 96 points (88 contributing to the Championship), with 8 wins (including 1 'Grand Slam'), 13 podiums and 10 poles.

#### 1991

For 1991 Senna would be partnered by Michael Andretti, son of former Formula One World Champion, Mario Andretti. The season would prove more challenging than his first season with the Scuderia, and Senna would be unable to match the performances of Davies at McLaren and Mansell at Williams. Senna would still manage 3 wins, including another home win, as well as wins in France and Germany. Senna's form after the German Grand Prix would tail off, with only a second place and fifth place finish from the last few races. As a result, Senna's title challenge in 1991 would be fall away, and he would finish the season 4th in the standings. Senna would score 54 points, with 3 wins, 7 podiums and 5 poles. While frustrated with their performance, Senna acknowledged that it had been a three-year project and Ferrari deserved a further year to deliver a championship winning car.

#### 1992

Hopes were high at Fiorano that their 1992 challenger could return the team to greatness. Despite the promise, Williams and McLaren were still the class of the field, and now Benetton were in the mix. The season would prove challenging, but Senna would eventually secure his first win at the 1992 Hungarian Grand Prix. The win would give Senna an outside shot at the title, and third at round 14 at the Portuguese Grand Prix kept him in the fight for the penultimate round at Japan. Unfortunately, further success would elude Senna and fifth place at Suzuka would not be enough to keep him in the title fight. Senna would finish in 4th in the championship with just 44 points, 1 win, 6 podiums and 1 pole. The season proved a disappointing one for Senna and it was with no small amount of regret that he did not renew his contract with Ferrari, instead choosing to move to Williams for 1993.

### Williams (1993–present)

During testing ahead of the 1993 season, Senna would suffer a serious crash at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. The call for substantial changes to circuits and cars would restart the long dormant debate on safety in Formula One, and the FIA announced their intention to investigate the matter with a mind to introducing new rules and guidance for the 1994 season.

Despite this setback in pre-season testing, Senna would return to his regular form and would secure two wins out of the first two rounds, including another victory at his home Grand Prix.

## Personal Life

Senna is a devout Catholic once saying: "Just because I believe in God, just because I have faith in God, it doesn't mean that I'm immune. It doesn't mean that I'm immortal". He often reads the Bible on long flights from São Paulo to Europe. Senna has great concern for the poor of Brazil and has been involved widely in charitable enterprises, particularly in his home city of São Paulo.

Senna was awarded the No. 1 driver of the year by the editor of the Autocourse annual 2 times, in 1988 and 1990, as well as taking the runner-up spot in 1985 and 1989.

Senna owns several properties, including an organic farm in Tatuí, Brazil (where he built a go-kart track in 1991), a beach house in Angra dos Reis, Brazil, an apartment in São Paulo, Brazil, an apartment in Monaco, an estate in Sintra, on the Portuguese Riviera, an agriturismo in Tuscany, Italy and a house in Algarve, Portugal.

Senna enjoys a range of physical activities including running, waterskiing, jet skiing, and paddleboarding. He also has several hobbies, such as flying real and model planes and helicopters, boating, fishing, and riding his favourite Ducati motorbikes. His private jet is a British Aerospace 125, and he also pilots his own helicopter between his residences in Brazil along with travelling to races. For his 29th birthday in 1989, the Brazilian Air Force gave Senna a flight on one of their jet fighters (a Dassault Mirage III). After a 3 ship flyover of the type at the 1990 Australian Grand Prix, Senna was given a joyride in an RAAF F-111C.

Senna is close friends with Gerhard Berger, and the two are well known for playing practical jokes on each other, and other drivers. Berger is quoted as saying, "He taught me a lot about our sport, I taught him to laugh." In September 1992, Berger was reported to have posted bail for Senna and Joey Davies after the two were arrested by Rio de Janeiro police after they commandeered two police vehicles and drove on Copacabana beach during a raucous party.

Senna was married to Lilian de Vasconcelos Souza from 1981 until 1982. Vasconcelos, whom he had known since childhood, had difficulty adapting to her husband's racing life in England. Vasconcelos later said: "I was his second passion. His first passion was racing… There is nothing more important in the world for him, not family, not wife, nothing." Though he did not have much of an income early in his racing career, Senna insisted on supporting his wife, with no help from his father, out of a sense of pride. The marriage ended in divorce.

Senna then courted Adriane Yamin, daughter of an entrepreneur from São Paulo, who was 15 years old when they began the relationship in 1985 and often chaperoned by her mother during meetings with Senna. They were briefly engaged, but the relationship was broken off by Senna in late 1988. Senna dated Brazilian TV star Xuxa from late 1988 until 1990. He then dated Christine Ferracciu, who lived with him at his homes in Monaco and Portugal, on-and-off between 1990 and 1991. Senna is also rumoured to have had an affair with American model Carol Alt, and briefly dated models Marjorie Andrade and Elle Macpherson.

In his early years in Formula One, Senna was the subject of a smear campaign orchestrated by Nelson Piquet, ranging from Senna being regarded as a "taxi driver" to being homosexual, given his failed marriage. According to a 1990 interview by the Brazilian edition of *Playboy*, Senna declared that he lost his virginity at 13 years of age to a prostitute arranged by his cousin, and he also insinuated that he had a relationship with Piquet's would-be wife (hence Piquet's acrimony).

## Formula One Statistical Overview

### Formula One Record

Notes

* \* – Season still in progress.

### Complete Formula One results

(key) (Races in **bold** indicate pole position; races in *italics* indicate fastest lap)

Notes

* ‡ – Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed.
* † – Driver did not finish the Grand Prix, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.
* \* – Season still in progress.

## Footnotes

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Up until 1990, not all points scored by a driver contributed to their final World Championship tally (see list of points scoring systems for more information). Numbers without parentheses are Championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.
2. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Rubython, Tom (2006). *The Life of Senna*. BusinessF1 Books. ISBN 0-9546857-3-3.
3. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Ramírez, Jo (2005). *Memoirs of a Racing Man*. Haynes Publishing. ISBN 1-84425-238-8.
4. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Folley, Malcolm (2010). *Senna versus Prost*. Arrow Books. ISBN 978-0-0995-2809-8.

**1951**: J. M. Fangio
**1952**: A. Ascari
**1953**: A. Ascari
**1954**: J. M. Fangio
**1955**: J. M. Fangio
**1956**: J. M. Fangio
**1957**: J. M. Fangio
**1958**: M. Hawthorn
**1959**: J. Brabham
**1961**: P. Hill
**1962**: G. Hill
**1963**: J. Clark
**1964**: J. Surtees
**1965**: J. Clark
**1966**: J. Brabham
**1967**: D. Hulme
**1968**: G. Hill
**1969**: J. Stewart
**1971**: J. Stewart
**1972**: E. Fittipaldi
**1973**: J. Stewart
**1974**: E. Fittipaldi
**1975**: N. Lauda
**1976**: J. Hunt
**1977**: N. Lauda
**1978**: M. Andretti
**1979**: J. Scheckter
**1981**: N. Piquet
**1982**: K. Rosberg
**1983**: N. Piquet
**1984**: N. Lauda
**1985**: A. Prost
**1986**: A. Prost
**1987**: A. Prost
**1988**: **A. Senna**
**1989**: A. Prost
**1991**: J. Davies
**1992**: N. Mansell