Last Friday, “Senna” was finally released in Britain. Here are my thoughts on the film.
After a brief introduction and archive footage of Ayrton Senna in the lower ranks, the film covers Senna’s rise through the ranks of Formula 1, from his days at Toleman, to Lotus, to McLaren, and then the ill-rated relationship with Williams.
Toleman
Senna started his Formula 1 racing career with Toleman, and after the introduction to Senna’s pre-F1 career, the film cuts to Senna at the wheels of the TG183B. He made his début in his native Brazil—retiring—before driving to a stunning second place at Monaco in 1984. He famously chased down Prost lap after lap, with Prost waving frantically at the marshals to stop the race due to the heavy rain that had fallen. He succeeded in getting the race stopped just in time; one more lap and Senna may well have won the race. Still, Senna certainly made a name for himself, and it was not to be the last Prost would see of him.
Lotus
Senna moved up the grid to Lotus for 1985, which meant Nigel Mansell was booted out of the team. We don’t see very much of Senna in the Lotus, but we do see Senna win his first Grand Prix, in Portugal—his first finish with Lotus—and for me, Senna driving a John Player Special Lotus is as iconic as him in a McLaren, or, for different reasons, in the Williams.
McLaren
As you might expect, the real meat of the film is focused upon Senna once he had move to McLaren for 1988. Senna joined McLaren, partnering Alain Prost. The footage in the film shows how the relationship between the two started well, and even towards the end of their first season together was still quite good. But Prost clearly knew Senna had the upper hand, enquiring in one interview whether the two could end up tied for the championship. Upon the reply, to the negative, he simply responded by saying, “shit”. He was clearly a little concerned.
Still, things got worse in 1989 with the clash at Suzuka handing the title to Prost. The film gives good coverage to this incident and certainly paints a negative picture of Jean-Marie Balestre, the then-President of the FIA. When everything then comes to a head again at Suzuka in 1990, it is hard not to have some sympathy for Senna.
After the events of 1990, there is less (though still interesting and substantial) time spent on the following three seasons, before Senna’s ill-fated switch for 1994.
Williams
1994 was meant to be a dream year. Frank Williams had made no secret of his desire to see Senna race for him. Frank Williams had given Senna one of his first F1 tests. Senna had offered to drive for free in 1993, but Prost wouldn’t allow it and had a clause preventing this written in to his contract. Finally, the two were together. Senna could see out his F1 career at Williams.
Unfortunately, 1994 was a year of huge change in F1. All sorts of technical changes were made. Traction control and active suspension were banned. The new Williams was a handful to drive and Senna spun out of second place at his home Grand Prix in Brazil. The rest of the story then covers Imola and the aftermath.
Thoughts
The film is put together very well. It provides wonderful archive footage of Senna throughout his racing career, and some of his personal life too. You get a brilliant insight into some of the major events in his career and it is thoroughly worth seeing for any Formula 1 fan. The film runs at about 100 minutes, and I only took my eyes off the screen once. It is a compelling piece. If you haven’t seen it, but like F1, go and watch it. After all, I’ve tried very hard not to spoil any of the actual content…