This post is dedicated to those who are too young to have seen Ayrton Senna shine in Formula 1.
On the day that the Brazilian’s death, caused by an accident in Imola, turns 30, the following lines also serve as an invitation for those who were able to celebrate with the three-time world champion to remember those glorious times.
Supporting Ayrton Senna was…
… live in a countdown to see him win his sixth world championship and surpass Juan Manuel Fangio. The Argentine was the driver with the most world titles (5) while Senna was competing. The Brazilian was trying for four when he died. Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton are the greatest champions in F1 history. Each has seven cups.
… have a great chance of having a happy Sunday, if it were a Formula 1 weekend.
… spend the GP weekend checking the weather forecast at the race site like when you want to know if there will be a beach. Only, in this case, hoping for rain.
…celebrate the first drops of rain on the racetrack like when the referee awards a penalty for your team. A wet track meant half way to victory for the Brazilian.
… spend the night in line outside the race track on the eve of the Brazil GP like band fans do before shows in search of the best seats.
… sing in the stands at Interlagos, in São Paulo, or Jacarepaguá, in Rio de Janeiro, as if it were your team’s game.
…. dry rival Alain Prost until his last reserve of energy. It wasn’t easy.
… face endless discussions with the “piquesistas” who dared to say that Nelson Piquet was better than Senna.
… predict wild duels with Nigel Mansell.
… wait for Ayrton to overtake like someone waiting for the team’s star to dribble.
… have fun with your opponents struggling to overtake you, when your car wasn’t among the fastest.
… get angry with Jean-Marie Balestrre, who presided over the FIA (International Automobile Federation) like a fan who gets angry with a referee who keeps making mistakes against his team. Balestre was French like Prost. The atmosphere between him and Senna was war.
… look forward to the Monaco GP as much as you look forward to the classic against the biggest rival in football. Ayrton won six times on the streets of the principality.
… be as punctual with the race schedule as someone who doesn’t arrive late for work. It didn’t matter how much it would disrupt his Sunday rest.
… put Ayrton’s exploits in the day’s race on the Sunday lunch menu.
… too good. Is unforgettable.
