Premium

Ayrton Senna - The day the sun fell from the sky!

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on May 1, 2014

Reading time 5min

Written by:

Daniel Reinhard

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Das Grab von Ayrton Senna in Sao Paulo im Jahr 1995

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Eine Intschrft erinnert in Sao Paulo an Ayrton Senna

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Eine Runde mit Senna - Positionen des Fotografen

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1990 beim Anbremsen der St. Dévote Schikane am Ende der Start Ziel-Geraden (Pos 01)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1992 vor Nigel Mansell in der St. Dévote Schikane (Pos 02)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1990 auf der Bergauf geraden Beau Rivage in Richtung Casino (Pos 03)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1990 vor dem Hotel de Paris in der schnellen Massenet-Kurve (Pos 04)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1987 auf den Curbs der Casino-Kurve (Pos 05)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1990 beschleunigt aus der Casino-Kurve auf das Bergab-Stück in Richtung Mirabeau (Pos 06)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1990 setzt zum Drift an und stabilisiert das Auto an der Planke (Pos 07)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1993 in der Mirabeau Haute (Pos 08)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1990 bremst in die Loews-Kurve (heute Fairmont) (Pos 09)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1984 lenkt in die engste Kurve der gesamten F1 (Pos 10)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1987 mit viel Turbo Power in der langsamsten Ecke des Jahres (Pos 11)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1991 mit vollem Einschlag vor dem Casino Eingang (Pos 12)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1988 durch die Palmen gesehen (Pos 13)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1990 beschleunigt den McLaren aus der Loews-Kurve (Pos 14)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1987 auf dem Weg in die Mirabeau Bas (Pos 15)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1988 auf dem Weg in die andere Dimension im Tunnel unter dem Loews-Hotel (Pos 17)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1990 am schnellsten Punkt der Strecke kurz nach der Tunnel-Ausfahrt (Pos 18)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1993 in der nouvelle Chicane der ehemaligen Hafenschikane (Pos 19)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1993 sticht in die Tabac Kurve (Pos 20)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1993 fliegt in die Doppel-Schikane rund um den Pool daher der Name Piscine (Pos 21)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1993 von diesem ersten Einlenkpunkt hängt der Kurvenausgang ab (Pos 22)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1987 im 2. der insgesamt vier Knicks (Pos 23)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1988 im dritten und langsamsten Teil der Doppelschikane (Pos 24)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1992 beschleunigt aus der dritten in die vierte und letzte Ecke der Doppelschikane (Pos 25)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Senna 1993 zurück auf der Start-Ziel-Geraden (Pos 26)

You have only

1 out of 33

images seen in high resolution

Summary

On May 1, 1994, one of the best racing drivers of all time was killed in an accident at the darkest Grand Prix in racing history. He was an exceptional talent and certainly one of the most talented racing drivers ever to sit in a Formula 1 cockpit. This article looks at some of the episodes in his life as a racing driver and commemorates the legendary racing driver with many pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

The myth of Senna
10 years of Senna in Formula 1
Three world championship titles, 41 GP victories, 65 pole positions
Senna's love for Monaco
On the planks of Monte Carlo
When the track changes

Estimated reading time: 5min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Exactly 20 years ago today (May 1, 2014), one of the best racing drivers of all time had a fatal accident at the darkest Grand Prix in racing history. The extremely fast Tamburello corner in Imola was his undoing. The problem was not the corner itself, but the technical defect (presumably a broken steering column) on his Williams, which sent the car uncontrollably into the wall. It was not the impact with the wall that caused his death, but the right front wheel, which was flung off the wall towards his head and snuffed out his life. As Heinz Harald Frentzen said at the time, there is no better way to describe May 1, 1994: "When Ayrton died, it was as if the sun had fallen from the sky."

Welcome to Zwischengas!