Senna entered F1 in 1984 and drove for Toleman. He achieved three podiums in his first year and almost won the Monaco Grand Prix, but the race was stopped for safety reasons.
After a three-year spell at Lotus, Senna went on to drive for McLaren, the team that would assist him in becoming an ultimate driver and triple world champion.
Did you know that Senna was suspended by Toleman for the 1984 Italian Grand Prix because he broke the contract and signed for Lotus?
1988 proved to be a complete McLaren whitewash. Senna was partnered by double world champion Alain Prost for the season and the pair won 15 of the 16 races that season. Senna eventually took his maiden title.
Senna continued to race with McLaren until 1994. He won 35 races from 46 poles. Senna performed extremely well at the Monaco Grand Prix and holds the record for number of wins at the principality.
It is impossible to cover all of Senna’s greatest moments, but 41 wins from 161 starts, eight consecutive pole positions, 610 career points and 19 fastest laps say a lot about the Brazilian.
His death in 1994 not only bought Formula One to a standstill, but the whole world also. Senna was on pole for the San Marino Grand Prix and led the Grand Prix until he smashed into a concrete wall at an estimated 135 mph. Many attended his funeral.
Did you know that Frank Williams was charged with manslaughter after Senna’s death? Williams was cleared of the charges eventually.
The next driver we concentrate on is Nelson Piquet Senior, who is also a triple world champion.
After a slow start in Formula One; Piquet won the title in 1981. Piquet then took the title again in 1983, becoming the first man to win a championship in a turbo powered car.
Piquet moved to Williams to partner Nigel Mansell. The pair had the fiercest team mate war the sport has probably ever seen (Yes, it was worse than Hamilton and Alonso).
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