30 years ago, Brazil prematurely lost one of its greatest idols, Ayrton Senna. For this May 1st, the ESPN presents a special to celebrate the life of the legendary racing driver Formula 1. And, for this nostalgia session, Adriane Galisteu, Christian Fittipaldi and Geraldo Rodrigues are the guests who remember special moments unknown to the public. In the presentation, Felipe Motta, editor-in-chief of Motorsport.com.
In a relaxed but reflective chat, the guests visit Ayrton’s past telling how they met, and what it was like to deal with such a focused but kind personality at the same time: “He was very shy, so he had a lot of difficulty communicating. start a conversation. One day he took me to dinner and nothing happened, nothing.”, comments Adriane about the beginning of their relationship.
The guests even reveal Ayrton’s playful side with his friends, as Geraldo, businessman and founder of Reunion Sports, recalls when talking about a ‘game’ in which they pushed each other’s cars: “The joke was already coming from the restaurant . When it was time to leave, one car was next to the other and Ayrton said goodbye. Suddenly, he reverses, hits a car, accelerates and hits another. That was his way of saying ‘I didn’t play along, because I knew I would win.”
The special episode also features an unprecedented life-size replica of the three-time Formula 1 champion’s iconic car. In addition, a model of the driver’s helmet is part of the scene, along with light designs following the colors of the athlete’s uniform.
In a last moment, the guests reflect on which path Ayrton would have followed, whether more focused on sport or business. The answer is unanimous: “He was the sports guy.” As an example, they share the moment Ayrton turned down a sneaker brand partnership because of a peculiar detail – he didn’t want to associate his name with something people would step on.
Finally, the guests bring the lessons they learned from Senna’s quick time in this world. For Adriane, the message is clear: “Live your life, make your dreams come true, believe, spend time with your friends. There’s nothing cooler in the world than being able to work and also have fun.”
The show is scheduled for May 1st, Wednesday, at 8pm on ESPN, without commercial breaks. After broadcast, it will be available on the Star+ streaming platform.
