Ayrton Senna

25 years ago today marked the “blackest day” in formula 1 as quoted by legendary Formula 1 commentator Murray Walker. Arguably one of the sports greatest drivers of all time Ayrton Senna was killed at the 1994 San Marino grand prix at the autodromo Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola, Italy.

The tragic weekend started when Rubens Barrichello’s Jordan crashed at the Variante Bassa chicane during Friday qualifying which would rule the Brazilian out for the remainder of the weekend through injury. A day later Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger driving Simtek would crash at the Villeneuve kink and would succumb to his injuries during the Saturday qualifying session.

The start of the race saw J.J Lehto in the Benetton would stall on the grid and would be hit by Pedro Lamy’s Lotus, which would bring out the safety car. On 7 lap Ayrton Senna whilst leading would veer off at the Tamburello corner and the race would be red flagged to clear up the debris on the track itself.

Ayrton Senna was airlifted to hospital where he would succumb to his injuries at the age of 34. He was regarded as one of the greatest drivers in the sports history scoring 65 pole positions, 41 race wins and 3 world championships in 1988, 1990 and 1991 whislt driving for McLaren.

Daytime presenter and formula 1 fan Aston Avery spoke about the man Ayrton Senna himself also recalled what happened across the black weekend in formula 1 history.