10 myths about Ayrton Sen: true or false?

The late three-time Formula 1 world champion Ayrton Senna is a legend in sports fans, and for many, he remains the best driver ever on the circuit.

After his death on May 1, 1994, Senna was quickly mythologized, but those who watched him live became fewer and fewer, and young fans got an idea of ​​his talent from low-quality television coverage of the 80s.

The site, named after Ayrton Senna, created to preserve the pilot's memory with the approval of his family, offers interesting facts about the Brazilian's career and success. Including these 10 myths about him, some of which, however, do not correspond to reality. Let's see and remember a talented but controversial pilot.

Senna wins the race in a car without brakes

True. However, it was not completely without brakes, but soon after the start of the British Formula Ford race at Snetterton, Senna found that there were problems with stopping. On the first lap, he stepped back from the lead by several positions, adapting his driving to the new behavior of the car. He then launches a series of attacks and, although only the rear brakes work, he manages to regain the first place and win. After the race, mechanics were surprised to confirm that the front discs were ice-cold, meaning they were not being used.

The song "Victory" was written about Ayrton's successes

Lying. This Brazilian song has become synonymous with Senna's Formula 1 victories, but the truth is that fans first heard it in the 1983 Brazilian Grand Prix final when Nelson Piquet won. At the time, Senna was still competing in British Formula 3.

Senna was selected by Formula 1 drivers No. 1

True. At the end of 2009, Autosport magazine organized a survey of all active Formula 1 drivers who recorded at least one race in the championship. They put Senna in first place, followed by Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio.

Last year, Formula 1 organized a similar poll among drivers competing in the 2019 championship, and 11 of them voted for Sena.

Senna won the race from the last position

Lie. Senna has 41 F1 wins, but the last starting position he won a race from was 5th on the grid in Phoenix in 1990.

Senna won the race in only one gear

True. There is hardly a Formula 1 fan who is not familiar with Senna's victory in Brazil in 1991. This is his first success at home, but on lap 65, he discovers that he has run out of third gear and then cannot turn on fourth, and so on. The box is about to lock, but Senna makes the last 4 laps of the race in sixth gear, loses the lead but wins the race. In the finale, his fingers barely come off the steering wheel, and on the podium it is difficult for him to find the strength to lift the cup.

Senna signed a contract to drive a Ferrari

Lying. Ayrton never hid that he wanted to play for Scuderia, but he never signed a contract with the team. However, there is reliable information that he was in talks with Luca di Montezemolo and after Williams, most likely, will move to Ferrari.

Senna managed to close the second one from one lap

Lie. But Ayrton came close to it several times. A perfect example of this is his first F1 win in 1985 in Portugal - he won by 1 minute and 2 seconds ahead of second Michele Alboreto and one lap ahead of third Patrick Tambe.

Senna recorded the fastest lap of the pits

Is it true. Sounds amazing, but it's a fact. In 1993 at Donington Park, Senna scored one of his most famous victories, with the first lap after the start being legendary - he was five cars ahead to take the lead. On lap 57, Sena flew through the pits but didn't stop at the McLaren mechanics, long thought to be due to radio communication problems. But Ayrton explains that this was part of his strategy in the fight against Alain Prost. At that time there was no speed limit on the boxes.

Senna feels great on the wet track from the very first start

Lying. Senna did not perform well in his first wet-kart race, but this prompted him to practice even more on the wet track. And he uses every rain in Sao Paulo to drive his car.

Senna saved the life of his Formula 1 colleague

True. During one of the training sessions for the 1992 Belgian Grand Prix, Senna stopped at the track to help the seriously injured Eric Coma. The Frenchman Ligie is leaking fuel, and Ayrton fears that the car may explode, so he seeps into Coma's car, who is unconscious, and activates the car key, turning off the engine.