Ayrton Senna facts for kids
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| Formula One World Championship career | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Active years | 1984 - 1994 |
| Teams | Toleman Hart, Lotus, McLaren Honda, Williams |
| Entries | 162 |
| Championships | 3 (1988, 1990, 1991) |
| Wins | 41 |
| Podiums | 80 |
| Pole positions | 65 |
| Fastest laps | 19 |
| First entry | 1984 Brazilian Grand Prix |
| First win | 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix |
| Last win | 1993 Australian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1994 San Marino Grand Prix |
Ayrton Senna da Silva (born March 21, 1960 – died May 1, 1994), known as Ayrton Senna, was a famous Brazilian Formula 1 race car driver. He won the Formula 1 championship three times: in 1988, 1990, and 1991. Many people think he was the most skilled driver ever in motor racing. Sadly, he died in an accident during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at the Imola track.
Early Life and Karting
Ayrton Senna was born in São Paulo, a big city in Brazil. When he was just four years old, he got into a kart for the first time. He loved it!
At 13, he entered his first karting competition. Guess what? He started that race from the very first spot, called "pole position." He was much lighter than other racers, which made him super fast. He won the South American Kart Championships in 1977. He was also second in the World Championship, but he never won that one.
In 1981, he moved to England to race. He won the British Formula Ford 1600 championship. He also changed his name to Senna because "da Silva" is a very common name in Brazil.
The next year, 1982, was also great for him. Senna won two European championships: the European and British Formula Ford 2000. After trying out for big teams like Williams, McLaren, and Brabham, he joined the Toleman team for the 1984 Formula One season.
Starting in Formula One
The Toleman team was quite small compared to famous teams like Williams and McLaren. But even with a small team, Senna showed his amazing talent.
Ayrton Senna earned his first championship point on April 7, 1984, at the South African Grand Prix. Just three races later, he really shined at the Monaco Grand Prix. It was raining heavily, making the race very tricky. Senna started way back in 13th place. But he quickly moved up, passing car after car on the narrow Monaco track.
On lap 19, he took second place from Niki Lauda. He was catching up fast to the leader, Alain Prost. The rain got even worse, and the race was stopped on lap 31. Many people believe Senna would have won if the race had continued. Still, it was a fantastic result for a new driver. Later that year, he finished third in two more races. He ended his first Formula One year in ninth place with 13 points.
Senna didn't just race in Formula One that year. He also drove a Porsche 956 in a long race called the 1000km Nürburgring. He also won a special race to celebrate the opening of the new Nürburgring track.
Years with Lotus
In 1985, Senna joined the Lotus team. Many thought he would become a big star there. His teammate was Elio De Angelis.
Ayrton got his first of 65 "pole positions" (starting from the very front) at the 1985 Brazilian Grand Prix. But he couldn't win that race due to an electrical problem. He didn't have to wait long for his first Formula 1 victory, though! He won the very next race, the 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix, again starting from pole position. He showed incredible skill driving in terrible wet weather. Even future champion Alain Prost struggled in the rain that day.
The rest of 1985 was a bit tough for Senna. He scored many points but often had to stop racing because of car problems. He won the 1985 Belgian Grand Prix in another wet race. He finished the season in fourth place with 38 points. He had two wins, two second places, two third places, and seven pole positions that year.
His second season with Lotus in 1986 was better. The Lotus car was more reliable. He finished second in the Brazilian Grand Prix, right behind Nelson Piquet. He even led the World Championship after winning the 1986 Spanish Grand Prix. He won that race by only 14 thousandths of a second over Nigel Mansell! However, his Lotus car still wasn't reliable enough for him to win the championship that year.
Images for kids
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Senna at the age of 3
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Senna began racing go-karts in Brazil at the age of 13.
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21-year-old Senna in his British Formula Ford 1600 single seater
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Senna's Toleman TG184 from 1984 on display.
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Senna won a special race to celebrate the opening of the new Nürburgring in 1984.
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Senna driving the Team Lotus 97T at the 1985 European Grand Prix.
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Senna driving the Lotus 98T at the 1986 British Grand Prix.
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The Lotus 99T raced by Senna in 1987.
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Senna won his first world title in 1988 driving the amazing McLaren MP4/4.
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The Honda RA168E engine, which helped Senna win his first world championship.
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Alain Prost and winner Ayrton Senna at the Grand Prix Molson du Canada in Montreal, Canada, in 1988.
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Senna driving the McLaren MP4/5 in 1989.
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The McLaren MP4/5B raced by Senna in 1990.
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Senna won the first race of the season, the United States GP, with the new Honda V12-powered MP4/6.
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Senna won the 1992 Monaco Grand Prix in his McLaren MP4/7A.
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Senna won the 1993 European Grand Prix in tricky weather. Many say it was one of his best races ever.
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Senna came from far behind to finish fourth at the 1993 German Grand Prix at Hockenheim in his McLaren MP4/8.
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The Williams FW16 was the last F1 car Senna raced.
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Senna at home in his native Brazil.
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One of Senna's NSXs on display at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
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A statue of Ayrton Senna at the Parco delle Acque Minerali by the Tamburello corner of the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Italy.
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Senninha, a cartoon character inspired by Senna.
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A monument dedicated to Senna's Formula 1 racing, located at the entrance of the tunnel under Ibirapuera Park in São Paulo, Brazil.
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The "Senna Chicane" at the Adelaide Street Circuit, South Australia.
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Ayrton Senna's statue in Wałbrzych, Poland.
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Senna's helmet, showing the colors of the Brazilian flag.
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Bruno Senna's helmet design is like his uncle's (seen here driving the 1985 Lotus 97T at the 2010 Japanese Grand Prix).
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