Senna: Documentary

[Blindspot]

I just watched Senna.

Damn.

[TwoTubMan]

I'd love to see it, but I'd have to drive 500 miles to do so.

[Blindspot]

It's available on iTunes for $4.99 rental.

[CyberFerret]

Still remember the day he died quite clearly.

I've seen the ad for the doco come up on my iTunes. Might rent it over the weekend and watch it...

[JetBlue]

It's on Netflix too, for those that have it.

[Mr Boggie]

he was the best, RIP

[Blindspot]

he was the best, RIP

He was really one with the car. Amazing driver.

[Elev8]

The documentary was great. Aside from the normal criticism of all documentaries that some aspects were glossed over while some were gone-into to the point of overkill.

He WAS the greatest. Taken too soon. Very strange & complex man, but a unique talent.

I think my favourite quote was from Alan Jones (former F1 world champ). I forget the exact wording but it was along lines of "I was driving such-and-such a race, conditions were horrendous, wet track... spray... I was competitive, but at 100% and struggling to maintain control of the car... Next thing I know this young kid came past me and off into the distance at a rate of knots, like i was standing still. He seemed to dance between the puddles like the thing was on rails. At that point, I knew it was time to retire".

As a side note, I have TV coverage of the entire 1984 Formula 1 season on DVD. The golden age of F1. Less "health & safety" restrictions, more powerful cars, "proper" manual clutches & stick shifts, fuel & tyre stops, more overtaking, and Prost, Lauda, Piquet, Mansell, Alboreto, Rosberg, Patrese, Arnoux, Berger, Brundle and Senna (a relative newcomer at that point) all racing against each other.

Seriously, if you're an F1 fan and able to get your hands on any F1 footage from the early-mid 80's, don't miss it. You'll see just how bland, stale and homogenous modern F1 has become. There's more excitement & overtaking in a single lap back then than in entire races these days.

[DRS]

The documentary was great. Aside from the normal criticism of all documentaries that some aspects were glossed over while some were gone-into to the point of overkill.

He WAS the greatest. Taken too soon. Very strange & complex man, but a unique talent.

I think my favourite quote was from Alan Jones (former F1 world champ). I forget the exact wording but it was along lines of "I was driving such-and-such a race, conditions were horrendous, wet track... spray... I was competitive, but at 100% and struggling to maintain control of the car... Next thing I know this young kid came past me and off into the distance at a rate of knots, like i was standing still. He seemed to dance between the puddles like the thing was on rails. At that point, I knew it was time to retire".

As a side note, I have TV coverage of the entire 1984 Formula 1 season on DVD. The golden age of F1. Less "health & safety" restrictions, more powerful cars, "proper" manual clutches & stick shifts, fuel & tyre stops, more overtaking, and Prost, Lauda, Piquet, Mansell, Alboreto, Rosberg, Patrese, Arnoux, Berger, Brundle and Senna (a relative newcomer at that point) all racing against each other.

Seriously, if you're an F1 fan and able to get your hands on any F1 footage from the early-mid 80's, don't miss it. You'll see just how bland, stale and homogenous modern F1 has become. There's more excitement & overtaking in a single lap back then than in entire races these days.
So true - and don't forget Gilles Villaneuve although he died in 1982.

[Blindspot]

So true - and don't forget Gilles Villaneuve although he died in 1982.

Possibly my favorite racer.

[67blackcherry]

I saw it on the big screen.....brilliant.....I'm going to buy it now that it's out.

[HurricaneJesus]

Not sure which one to order on Amazon here in the US....

[traviswalk]

Not sure which one to order on Amazon here in the US....


Don't get the Region 2 DVDs! Saw on another forum that Dec 20th is the US Blu-Ray release date.

I loved the documentary, it was so well done and the story is so compelling. What a talent.

[tonyhay]

The documentary was great. Aside from the normal criticism of all documentaries that some aspects were glossed over while some were gone-into to the point of overkill.

He WAS the greatest. Taken too soon. Very strange & complex man, but a unique talent.

I think my favourite quote was from Alan Jones (former F1 world champ). I forget the exact wording but it was along lines of "I was driving such-and-such a race, conditions were horrendous, wet track... spray... I was competitive, but at 100% and struggling to maintain control of the car... Next thing I know this young kid came past me and off into the distance at a rate of knots, like i was standing still. He seemed to dance between the puddles like the thing was on rails. At that point, I knew it was time to retire".

As a side note, I have TV coverage of the entire 1984 Formula 1 season on DVD. The golden age of F1. Less "health & safety" restrictions, more powerful cars, "proper" manual clutches & stick shifts, fuel & tyre stops, more overtaking, and Prost, Lauda, Piquet, Mansell, Alboreto, Rosberg, Patrese, Arnoux, Berger, Brundle and Senna (a relative newcomer at that point) all racing against each other.

Seriously, if you're an F1 fan and able to get your hands on any F1 footage from the early-mid 80's, don't miss it. You'll see just how bland, stale and homogenous modern F1 has become. There's more excitement & overtaking in a single lap back then than in entire races these days.

Completely agree. I used to love F1 in those days. Still do, sometimes, but in the early 80's every race was like a story unfolding in front of your eyes.

[RedRockRoy]

It's on Netflix streaming. Thanks for the heads up, I'm going to check it out.

[CyberFerret]

The documentary was great. Aside from the normal criticism of all documentaries that some aspects were glossed over while some were gone-into to the point of overkill.

He WAS the greatest. Taken too soon. Very strange & complex man, but a unique talent.

I think my favourite quote was from Alan Jones (former F1 world champ). I forget the exact wording but it was along lines of "I was driving such-and-such a race, conditions were horrendous, wet track... spray... I was competitive, but at 100% and struggling to maintain control of the car... Next thing I know this young kid came past me and off into the distance at a rate of knots, like i was standing still. He seemed to dance between the puddles like the thing was on rails. At that point, I knew it was time to retire".

As a side note, I have TV coverage of the entire 1984 Formula 1 season on DVD. The golden age of F1. Less "health & safety" restrictions, more powerful cars, "proper" manual clutches & stick shifts, fuel & tyre stops, more overtaking, and Prost, Lauda, Piquet, Mansell, Alboreto, Rosberg, Patrese, Arnoux, Berger, Brundle and Senna (a relative newcomer at that point) all racing against each other.

Seriously, if you're an F1 fan and able to get your hands on any F1 footage from the early-mid 80's, don't miss it. You'll see just how bland, stale and homogenous modern F1 has become. There's more excitement & overtaking in a single lap back then than in entire races these days.

Agreed - I haven't watched F1 in over a decade. I was in Adelaide and watched Prost race his final race. He crashed his car into the wall only about 20 feet away from where I was standing. Watched him climb out of the cockpit, smile and wave goodbye to the crowd as he walked back to the pits with everyone on their feet giving him a standing ovation.

It was about that time that I stopped watching F1...

[jcmark611]

I'm still not quite over Dan Wheldon's accident to watch this yet, but I hope to watch it someday.

[Cornbread]

Still remember the day he died quite clearly.



me too. terrible day.

[HurricaneJesus]

I'm still not quite over Dan Wheldon's accident to watch this yet, but I hope to watch it someday.

Very sad.

[LHanson]

Watched it. Sad and inspiring.

[tiktok]

Just watched it on Netflix. Great stuff.

[SLBlues]

As a side note, I have TV coverage of the entire 1984 Formula 1 season on DVD. The golden age of F1. Less "health & safety" restrictions, more powerful cars, "proper" manual clutches & stick shifts, fuel & tyre stops, more overtaking, and Prost, Lauda, Piquet, Mansell, Alboreto, Rosberg, Patrese, Arnoux, Berger, Brundle and Senna (a relative newcomer at that point) all racing against each other.

Seriously, if you're an F1 fan and able to get your hands on any F1 footage from the early-mid 80's, don't miss it. You'll see just how bland, stale and homogenous modern F1 has become. There's more excitement & overtaking in a single lap back then than in entire races these days.

I feel this statement is subject to much debate. Probably depends somewhat on your age and perspective. Granted the drivers you name are/were great (with a couple of exceptions) but some of us were around and fans when Stewart, Clark, G. Hill, P. Hill, Gurney, R. Ginther, J. Brabham, Bruce McLaren, D. Hulme, P. Revson, J. Surtees, J Rindt and numerous others were competing. Different time, way different vehicles, no Ecclestone drama, privateer owners such as Ken Tyrell and Rob Walker. BTW, thankfully, there were lot of safety improvements made by the 80's. Jackie Stewart was the leading voice for safety improvements.

The bottom line, IMO, the 80's were certainly not the "golden age" of formula one.

[Blindspot]

Fangio

Moss

I mean, if we're going back in time that far, the list of great drivers is long....

vBmdzpAYGaE

BNVPAAin-rw

[epluribus]

I feel this statement is subject to much debate. Probably depends somewhat on your age and perspective. Granted the drivers you name are/were great (with a couple of exceptions) but some of us were around and fans when Stewart, Clark, G. Hill, P. Hill, Gurney, R. Ginther, J. Brabham, Bruce McLaren, D. Hulme, P. Revson, J. Surtees, J Rindt and numerous others were competing. Different time, way different vehicles, no Ecclestone drama, privateer owners such as Ken Tyrell and Rob Walker. BTW, thankfully, there were lot of safety improvements made by the 80's. Jackie Stewart was the leading voice for safety improvements.

The bottom line, IMO, the 80's were certainly not the "golden age" of formula one.

Interesting point. As good as the racing was, I recall that we were griping the aero and the turbo stuff in those days, (not to mention the goofy looking doorstop cars) pining for the glory days of the sixties. And as for the quality of the racing, seems to me an awful lot of people were fussing about dull processions even back then...but that was probably the oval track guys who were used to seeing twenty passes per lap. :)

Still, if I could own one F1 car, it would be an old 60's-era car with no aero and no magic electronics. Pure, basic driving. If only...

--Ray

[soulohio]

^ but don't you agree that to say at any point during F1 (or any other series), that an era was "pure, basic driving" would that not acknowledge that there were cars that were superior, possibly vastly superior to other cars on the track?

I have no doubt that the drivers mentioned in this thread were the best on the planet...but that sort of sidesteps the evolution, the technological aspect, the free for all happening to the spec car...

[Elev8]

So true - and don't forget Gilles Villaneuve although he died in 1982.

kl2tIFxSEGA

Nuff said.

[Elev8]

I feel this statement is subject to much debate. Probably depends somewhat on your age and perspective. Granted the drivers you name are/were great (with a couple of exceptions) but some of us were around and fans when Stewart, Clark, G. Hill, P. Hill, Gurney, R. Ginther, J. Brabham, Bruce McLaren, D. Hulme, P. Revson, J. Surtees, J Rindt and numerous others were competing. Different time, way different vehicles, no Ecclestone drama, privateer owners such as Ken Tyrell and Rob Walker. BTW, thankfully, there were lot of safety improvements made by the 80's. Jackie Stewart was the leading voice for safety improvements.

The bottom line, IMO, the 80's were certainly not the "golden age" of formula one.

Fair comment (if slightly pedantic). We use different yardsticks that's all.
I mention the 80s over 60s/70s for a number of reasons.

- Firstly this is a Senna thread. Senna was competing in '84.
- Secondly, there was far better TV coverage of F1 in the 80s, with cameras in helicopters etc. and footage of many of those races is widely available (less so "your" golden age - 60s & early 70s) you'll recall the context of my point, urging people to seek out these races for a comparison with today's F1.
- Third, you could argue the technical development of F1 cars reached it's peak around that time, as was also the case in Rallying. It was the last hurrah before regulatory restrictions on power etc. hobbled car designers in the name of safety once and for all. The tedious results of which we see every season these days.
- Fourth, it could perfectly well be argued the era you mention was in fact the darkest hour for F1, with drivers (and i daresay many more crew & a fair few spectators) horrifically killed & maimed as an almost routine occurrence.
- Lastly (and possibly most significant of all) any comparison of eras is entirely subjective. You can't compare apples with oranges. It follows therefore there never has or ever could be one universally acknowledged "golden age".

My apologies for using a bit of artistic licence in order to illustrate a point, and thank you for correcting me

:bonk

[Blindspot]

kl2tIFxSEGA

Nuff said.

Yes - you don't really see open-wheel driving like that today, unless your watching kart racing.

[SLBlues]

Fair comment (if slightly pedantic). We use different yardsticks that's all.
I mention the 80s over 60s/70s for a number of reasons.

- Firstly this is a Senna thread. Senna was competing in '84.
- Secondly, there was far better TV coverage of F1 in the 80s, with cameras in helicopters etc. and footage of many of those races is widely available (less so "your" golden age - 60s & early 70s) you'll recall the context of my point, urging people to seek out these races for a comparison with today's F1.
- Third, you could argue the technical development of F1 cars reached it's peak around that time, as was also the case in Rallying. It was the last hurrah before regulatory restrictions on power etc. hobbled car designers in the name of safety once and for all. The tedious results of which we see every season these days.
- Fourth, it could perfectly well be argued the era you mention was in fact the darkest hour for F1, with drivers (and i daresay many more crew & a fair few spectators) horrifically killed & maimed as an almost routine occurrence.
- Lastly (and possibly most significant of all) any comparison of eras is entirely subjective. You can't compare apples with oranges. It follows therefore there never has or ever could be one universally acknowledged "golden age". This!

My apologies for using a bit of artistic licence in order to illustrate a point, and thank you for correcting me

:bonk

Please accept my apologies for assuming the role of "golden era" police and portraying my beliefs and perceptions as the only valid view point. I have been attempting not to rain on anyone's parade but fell off the wagon.

BTW. never been called "slightly pendantic" before. It fits. :rotflmao

[epluribus]

^ but don't you agree that to say at any point during F1 (or any other series), that an era was "pure, basic driving" would that not acknowledge that there were cars that were superior, possibly vastly superior to other cars on the track?

Yeah, I think that's true, at least if most of the racing press is to be believed. Probably a much bigger "problem" in F1, since such a huge share of the competition is down to the builders. (Not that I'd want it different...you can always tune into any of the vast choices of single-make and crate series. I like the tech.) The trick, IMHO, to really "getting" F1 is to embrace specifically the team-oriented aspect of the series, with success arguably as much down to the builders as it is to the pit crews and the drivers. A very different thing from driver-oriented series like NASCAR, F1 being more distinctly a team sport. Cool leagues both, but very different.

BTW, what I find interesting about guys like Senna, Clark, Andretti, and company, is that when you put them in single-make or limited series, they still dominate. At some point it becomes apparent that while the machinery is indeed magnificent, the best drivers are guys who are playing on another level entirely. (Oddly enough Tony Stewart comes to mind among modern drivers.)

But what I was referring to with "pure driving" was aimed more at less-enhanced machinery...manual clutches, zero aero downforce, limited grip, etc. Sort of boils out the basic challenges of managing the physics of driving, sans driving aids...at least as most of us knew it.

Of course it begs the question what "pure driving" would be these days, since most everything on the road has auto-trannies, traction control of some sort, power everything and so on...must we go back to spark advance? :)

--Ray

Always wanted to have a go at a Caterham...

[soulohio]

jaja...excuse me, it is nice to speak in english for a bit...

well, I definately agree with your comment re:Tony Stewart. Awesome driver and I miss him driving in an open wheel car... but my main bitch in NASCAR, which I have stated before and I fully realize that NASCAR racing has some great fan benefits, is from 2002-2003 you may as well scratch the nameplates off the cars. there is no difference in Ford-Dodge-Toyota-whatever (are there any other marques?)...the decision to slow the Fords down by altering the profiles was a series killer for me. The drivers are among the best-especially since they are driving vehicles that handle like boats, the tracks super accessible, the actual vehicles are non-descript.dopey.spec cars that pretend they are not. And at this point it doesn't matter....everyone is cool with NASCAR as the series has evolved.

so I guess NASCAR has a point for pure driving...pure driving "what" is the question.

[tiktok]

The bottom line, IMO, the 80's were certainly not the "golden age" of formula one.

I'd disagree--the most powerful cars ever, a lack of excessive electronic aids, and a deeper talent field than we've seen for the last fifteen years. The Schumacher years were a drag.

The 80's also has the advantage of plenty more exciting footage than earlier years, so that's going to tilt things in their favor.

[soulohio]

The Schumacher years were a drag.

interestingly, why was there no one that was able to challenge him? I agree to the point that there was no challenge; but Michael was the greatest-perhaps.

[rivaeast]

kl2tIFxSEGA

Nuff said.

Could watch this a 1000 time and it still makes me smile..... back when racing was racing..... mechanical grip RULES!

[epluribus]

interestingly, why was there no one that was able to challenge him? I agree to the point that there was no challenge; but Michael was the greatest-perhaps.

Often wondered the same thing, but I think it has to do with some peculiarities of modern racing...specifically the great complexities the driver has to deal in comprehending what the car is doing, such that he could tell the engineers just what it was doing, as opposed to what it seemed to be doing. In that light, I think two un-heralded things made Michael unbeatable off-track...his ability to attract talent to the team and lead it, obviously, but also his deep understanding of the car and its systems. Team tech meetings must have been day and night compared to, say, a sit-down with Mario.

Driver for driver, I'm of the opinion that both Mika and JV could give Schumacher fits in equal equipment, but Schuey had the best organization behind him, thanks in no small part to Michael himself. (The first few years at Indy, if you sat at the first corner and watched the times, you saw only four guys who could reliably blip the throttle between turns 1 and 2 and make time out of it...Schu, JV, Hakkinen, and DC. Everybody else coasted that sequence more or less, with times to match. Schu, btw, did it with nothing more than an elegant whooosh!)

--Ray

PS...and then there were the Oz guys who simply chucked the whole car in sideways...looked like sprint cars. :)

[DWB1960]

kl2tIFxSEGA

Nuff said.

That was f'ing awesome!

[tiktok]

interestingly, why was there no one that was able to challenge him? I agree to the point that there was no challenge; but Michael was the greatest-perhaps.

The best driver, with the best car, the best team, and the highest budget should rightfully dominate. It's just been a rare occurrence for all of those things to line up AND stay in place for that period of time.

[CyberFerret]

One race that had me on the edge of my seat was Mansell vs Alboreto in Japan in the rain.

Mansell had his car equipped for maximum downforce. Alboreto's had better straight line speed. Mansell would catch him on every corner and they would exit neck and neck before Michaelli would floor it and pull away. Mansell finally got him on the final chicane on the final lap and beat him.

Best thing was the scene in the pits afterwards. As soon as they hopped out of their cars, Alboreto ran over to Mansell and gave him a warm hug of congratulations...

EDIT: Couldn't find that particular video, but here is Alesi vs Mansell under similar conditions...

5QRV8pboR6g

[HurricaneJesus]

WmBl_XT0BpU

[jcmark611]

So I brought myself to watch it this afternoon. It was good, but not great. I felt it made Senna out to be a little more of a saint than he actually was. I wish it had been a little more fair to Prost as they almost went out of their way to make him look bad.

[TwoTubMan]

Pre-internet, I used to subscribe to a snail-mail newsletter called Formula One Spectators Association (FOSA). It had incredibly detailed descriptions of the entire race weekend, along with technical updates and even an old school lap chart. One of the oddest facts I learned about Senna was how much of a chatterbox he was during the races. His engineers said that he talked almost constantly, which is so at odds with his public persona.

Favorite Senna story. He, his brother, and Ron Dennis were having dinner in Brazil. In the center of the table was a large bowl of peppers and Senna's brother, well known as a lover of all things hot and spicy, tried one and declared it "serious business". Senna and Dennis had been haggling about the next years contract for a few weeks, but were still about a million bucks apart. Senna bet Dennis that if he could finish off the bowl of peppers, he would agree to terms. Senna said "I'm pretty sure he had some real problems with his exhaust system the next morning, but I learned that you never, ever bet with Ron Dennis when there's money on the line."

And then there's the time that Berger got hold of Senna's passport and glued a picture of someones naked butt over his photo. Hilarity ensued.

[TwoTubMan]

I wish it had been a little more fair to Prost as they almost went out of their way to make him look bad.

I'm not surprised, and I'll bet you really weren't, either. I firmly believe that Prost has had more mean, nasty, pure bullshit written about him than any other driver in history.

[CyberFerret]

...and possibly all because of THIS incident mainly???

OWJEdtKsoNQ

Didn't it cost one of them the championship?

[TwoTubMan]

Idiot move by both of them. Didn't they do this 2 years in a row?

[DRS]

I like where Senna just crashes into Prost to win the 1990 World Championship in Japan - neither made it past turn 1.

[Blindspot]

I like where Senna just crashes into Prost to win the 1990 World Championship in Japan - neither made it past turn 1.

That was retaliation.

They didn't much like each other.

[jcmark611]

...and possibly all because of THIS incident mainly???

Didn't it cost one of them the championship?

It cost Senna the Championship. He was ruled to have cut the chicane and his results were excluded. Had the results stood, Senna would have won the Championship.

[SLBlues]

I like where Senna just crashes into Prost to win the 1990 World Championship in Japan - neither made it past turn 1.

Supposedly the telemetry from Senna's car showed he never lifted off the go pedal in that incident.

[DRS]

Formula 1 during the 80s was like the tournements of the middles ages complete with dashing knights, colourful livery, rabid fans, thrilling competion - and death.

[zzmoore]

I wonder what Jackie Stewart thought of the Brasilian after that interview.?
Was that Prost at the end, carrying the casket.?

[jcmark611]

I wonder what Jackie Stewart thought of the Brasilian after that interview.?
Was that Prost at the end, carrying the casket.?

Yep, so was was JWS, Rubens Barrichello, and Emerson Fittipaldi

[Blindspot]

I wonder what Jackie Stewart thought of the Brasilian after that interview.?
Was that Prost at the end, carrying the casket.?

Pretty much every driver thought the same thing about Senna at the time -

"Friggin' kid is impossibly fast...how the hell...?!?"

[dani_boy79]

I saw the documentary this afternoon ... it made a weeping child out of me :'-(

[DRS]

Watched it tonight. Highly recommend it.

[MES10]

I highly recommend this. It shows Senna with his talents and his flaws, but man he was an amazing driver. The movie is excellent.

[DWB1960]

I highly recommend this. It shows Senna with his talents and his flaws, but man he was an amazing driver. The movie is excellent.

Totally agree. Just finished watching in on Netflix.

[ow my eyes]

It cost Senna the Championship. He was ruled to have cut the chicane and his results were excluded. Had the results stood, Senna would have won the Championship.

Not precisely. If I may...be a movie spoiler and back up a bit...

Senna joined McLaren in '88 after Prost had already won 2 World Titles. In 1988 at the Japanese GP, If Senna won, he would win his first World Championship. He had the pole position, but stalled at the start and was in 14th position after getting up to speed. He proceded however to come charging back and win that race and take his first World Championship. Young newcomer wins in his first year as teammate of the veteran Prost.

In 1989 both Prost and Senna were still with McLaren. We're back at the Japanese GP as a championship determining race. If Senna did not finish the race, Prost was World Champion, if Senna won the race, the championship was still up for grabs with further races. (ie, as stated above, if Senna wins, he would not have won the Championship, he would have extended it and stayed in the hunt) On the 45th of 53 laps Prost and Senna were 1-2. Senna tried to pass on the inside of a tight corner, and depending on whose side you're on, either Senna undercut Prost, or Prost turned into Senna. imo, Prost turned into Senna.
Prost was knocked out, but Senna's car was still operational. He went back on the race track via the chicane run-off and pitted to replace his front wing. With 5 laps to go and behind a few positions, he ran like hell and caught everyone and won the race.
Prost was seen running into the race stewart's office. Of course the FISA preisdent was Balestre, a Frenchman as was Prost.
The results were delayed, and then it was announced that Senna was disqualified for missing the chicane by re-entering the race via the runoff. Prost won the Championship by default. Senna then actually had his licence suspended for 6 months and fined $100k by Balestre. What's strange about this is the other driver's certainly didnt beleive that was a DQ'ing move as the only was to re-enter the race would be to turn around and point the car towards on coming traffic. Apparently that rule had not been enforced and the ruling was seen as controversial to say the least.
Prost wins his 3rd World Title.

In 1990, for the 3rd year in a row, the Championship was to be determined at the Japanese GP. Senna still with McLaren, Prost now with Ferrari. This time, if Prost didnt finish, Senna wins his second championship. Senna wins the pole position. However, for some reason, the pole position was placed on the less desireable "dirty" inside position of the track, a decision supposedly aided by still FISA President frenchman Balestre. In the pre-race driver's meeting, there is footage of another driver trying to specify the rule about the chicane run-off. Senna walks out of the meeting. The driver's seemed to agree that turning around back into oncoming traffic was idiotic and the only way to re-enter was to proceed through the run-off as Senna had done the year prior, but DQ'd for it.
Prost started in 2nd place, but on the fast part of the track and even with Senna, not staggered behind. Prost jumps out to a car length lead at the start, and at the first turn, Senna again tried an inside undercut and again they crashed, this time knocking both cars and drivers out, Senna wins his 2nd World Championship.
Again, its debatable regarding fault. Senna looks like he undercuts Prost, but Prost again looks to take a steep angle into the corner. Senna had both inside wheels on the striped portion of the track. Regardless, Senna wins the championship by both of them crashing and a full on hated rivalry was in full swing.

In 1991, Senna still with McLaren, Prost still with Ferrari, Senna wins his 3rd World Championship.

In 1992 - Prost takes a 1 year leave from F1.
That year Williams-Renault designs a car with a computerized suspension. Senna remains with McLaren and has a hard time competing with William's car, and Mansell wins the World Championship.

in 1993, Prost comes out of retirement, signs a deal with Williams and specifies in his contract not to have Senna on his team.
Prost wins his 4th title, and retires. Senna leaves McLaren.

in 1994, Senna signs with Williams. It was thought to be the perfect team for years of domniation. The computerized suspension for 2 years was wiping away the other cars and drivers, and now they have their young superstar driver. However, just before the start of the season, FISA determined the computerized suspension to be illegal and forced Williams to stop using it. The Williams cars had problems right out of the gate with handling during the early part of 1994 and Senna hadnt won a race yet during that year.
At the GP in Italy in May 1994, during Friday's qualifying, Senna's new young team-mate, Rubens took a filthy crash in the difficult to control Williams car, but survived.
On Sat's qualifying, Ratzenberger with Sintek was killed in another horrific crash. There was blood in the air.
Finally, on the Sunday race, Senna had pole. There was a crash early in race bringing out the 'pace car'. They were back up to full speed for lap 6, and then the ill fated lap 7. While Senna held the lead, it is believed that his stearing column broke in a very fast sweeping dangerous corner (controversial - but from what I can determine I believe it) and sent him veering straight off the track's corner into a concrete barrier and killed him.

Its a very compelling movie with some incredible driving footage. It very much has a hero- villian feel to it, but that makes a compelling story. Yes, Prost was a casket carrier for Senna.

It is a very worthy 1:45 min watch. Netflix is streaming it.

[soulohio]

great summary

[saxophonist56]

what a blast! the interviews (extras) kind of drive you crazy because of the non english ones. at least for me.

pretty outrageous that his belief in god being there with him caused the other drivers (prost) to say he was dangerous.

wish he had taken the year off with williams when the cars were so dangerous.

he really got screwed in that japanese gp where they said he cut the course.

too bad it takes deaths to improve the safety of racing eg senna and
Earnhardt


talk about charisma!

[CyberFerret]

Just watched this last night with my kids. "Damn" is the word!

One of the best documentaries I have seen. Even if you are not a racing fan, I think that you would find the movie inspiring and thought provoking.

I did think that they painted Prost in a fairly negative light, but good to see that Prost is now a trustee of the Senna Foundation.

The 80's was truly a different era of F1 racing. I am glad I got to see Senna race in person at the Adelaide Grand Prix several times.

[ANALOG GUY]

Took me awhile to warm up to Aryton, a period of great drivers, favorites of mine but he was showing more determination and speed and just raw talent.
Sure miss him.

For some of you who haven't seen him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9qZu7h5ys0

[HurricaneJesus]

Even my wife will watch that documentary with me. Very well done.