Photo by Jonathan Borba
Ayrton Senna, simply known as one of the best in history, fans still, go back and watch his onboard videos, his best moments, and his rivalries in F1.
He was just different at the time, history have seen a lot controversial drivers, but at the same time, being the best on the grid, that what made him special.
His career was filled with brilliance but a few races stand aparat, the ones that captured his essence.
1. Monaco ’84: The Raindance That Shook F1
Ayrton Senna arrived in F1 as a rookie with a modest Toleman car, but one day, it changed everything.
At Monaco GP in 1984, he started thirteenth on the grid, but he attacked the track like he was born for chaos, the rain fell in sheets, the narrow streets into rivers of dangers, other fought to stay on the road but Ayrton Senna? He danced on it!
Every lap he was closing on Alain Prost, almost three seconds per lap, it was unnatural, but due to heavy rain, Prost waved to the officials to stop the race as it was dangerous to continue.
On that day, behind Senna was another great star who was even faster than Senna in the final few laps, Stefan Bellof, he finished third but later he was disqualified from the race.
However, after Senna finished second, the paddock knew they had witnessed the birth of a phenomenon.
Portugal 1985: The day he shocked everyone
If Monaco race was a warning for the rivals, Estoril in 1985 was a declaration, Senna who moved at Lotus that season, secured pole under a stormy Portuguese sky, when the lights went out, he disappeared, while the rest of the grid wrestled their cars through rivers of standing water.
He overtook everyone on the grid except the second, the rest were lapped and lost in his spray, that day, finally he showed that he is the future champion and probably one of the best of his era.
It was not just a victory, it was a statement, he had taken control of nature itself and from that day on, the rain belonged to Ayrton Senna.
How Ayrton Senna Defied Physics and Won Without Front Brakes
Monaco 1988: The Lap That Touched the Edge of Perfection
He joined McLaren and his team-mate was Alain Prost, one of the best at the time, the car was dominant, but Senna’s qualifying was something that will stay in our mind forever.
He did not just simply set the fastest time, he was 1.4 seconds quicker than his rival Prost, a lifetime around Monte Carlo.
He would crash out in the race, 6 laps before the end, a rare human mistake that proved even best drivers have limits, but quali lap remains untouchable!
Japan 1989: The Collision Heard Around the World
Most dramatic race ever, the 1989 Japanese GP was supposed to decide the world title, it was Senna vs Prost, team-mates turned enemies, locked in one of the fiercest rivalries in the sport.
On lap 47, Senna tried to pass Prost, but he was blocked, the cars tangled, sliding into the escape road, Prost climbed out and he was convinced the title was his, but Senna refused to surrender, he restarted and rejoined back and he won the race.
Then came the blow, he cut the chicane in the last corner when he came back to the track, he was penalised and disqualified, championship went to Prost.
Spain 1990: Racing Through Tragedy
Ayrton Senna’s name carried an almost supernatural weight, that weekend in Jerez, during qualifying, Martin Donnelly suffered a horrific crash that left his car in pieces and the paddock in stunned silence.
Most drivers were shaken to the core but Senna climbed into his car and set pole lap, some called it cold, others called it courage.
During the race, Senna drove like a man wrestling not with rivals but with his own mortality, that weekend revealed the darker side of what made him great, the willingnes to look fear in the face and keep pushing.
Why we remember Ayrton Senna…
Ayrton Senna wasn’t perfect. He was something rarer — pure. Every race was an emotional storm, every victory a battle against his own limits.
Rain was his ally. Rivalry was his fuel. Faith was his armor.
And when that tragic weekend in Imola arrived in 1994, it didn’t erase him. It immortalized him. His spirit still lingers in every driver daring to go beyond reason, in every qualifying lap where bravery outweighs logic.
Senna didn’t just race to win. He raced to feel alive. And through that, he made the rest of us feel something too — something that has never truly faded.
