John Bisignano's touching interview about Ayrton Senna

[@JohnSmith-ii5cm]

I wasn't even alive when this man lived. My uncles instilled a passion for F1 into me. Everytime they speak of Senna, they tear up. This is a guy who fought cancer and never cracked, and he's crying over a guy who died 20 odd years ago. I watched countless hours of footage, interviews etc... And to my disbelief... I now drop a tear every time I think of Senna. I totally understand. RIP, You weren't the hero of Brazil. You were a hero of earth.

[@DiViNiTY1337]

I feel the same way. I was born less than a year after he died, and I too tear up when I see the Senna movie, or an emotional Senna interview, or something like this. I will always see him as the greatest driver who ever lived, and one of the greatest men who have ever walked this earth.

[@rembrandrembrand]

John Smith The reason why everyone loved Senna so much because he was realy fast and there was action in formula 1,Prost had a strong opponent they both leveled Formula 1 so high,early days electronic parts was not importent more a drivers skill,when I saw Senna first time,I did not stop watching formula 1 from that day on and I tolled my friends and they all watched and said this is unbelivable, it was like a magic,all my friends tolled me what a great driver he was and they also liked watching formula 1,there was something about him that everyone draw his attention, on that fatal day,I was watching him from TV and I said please god dont kill him,earlier ratzenberger died so when I saw his motionless body and twitching his head ,maybe he is injured thats why he cant get out of the car,later that day,we heard he was pronounced dead and I cried like a little baby,my hero who took my attention from the first day when I saw the formula 1, was gone and more and more when I saw schumacher wihthout a strong opponent my intrest to formula 1 faded away,if you want to enjoy formula 1,there must be at least couple of skilled drivers otherwise with 1 driver all joy wil fade away then I went to look at motogp and there was doohan,he was the king of motogp,I loved watching that guy ,he was just like Senna driving against other skilled drivers and how he was sliding his motorbike then came Rossi,skilled drivers show always there performance and you enjoy there style of driving,David coulthard was talking about formula 1 car of today, he says ,car goes so smooth, back in my day we had very difficult cars,when I see comments of people today who watch formula 1,everyone says formula 1 suck or boring,you dont need a skilled driver to drive ,computer do everything for you,formula 1 must stop aiding drivers with computer,let the guys drive with there own skills,like a footballer otherwise you sit and look to a boring sport...I am not a brazilian and my nationalty is not importent ,I was just a guy who like watching skilled people...

[@Joescuderia]

I saw him racing and I have worked for two guys whom raced against him, for me he drove like nothing else, out of this world.

[@snappycruise]

It is the same for me John. I was 14 year old teenage girl when he died and my dad beothers and I were devastated. I always wonder if Ayrton suffered when he died. I think he did but still hope no. Anyway, he's in heaven now.

[@cryptobr236]

So beautiful what you just said. :)

[@bloc706]

Senna's life is explained in 3 minutes, short, clear, clean and with a heart!

[@mautrindade]

I'm from Brazil and I happened to meet Senna's brother once, around 2007. He was a client of the company I used to work for. I can tell you, even being so wealthy he was extremely nice and humble. This surname deserves everything it achieved.

[@pranav8611]

Happy Late 63rd Birthday Ayrton Senna

[@octavioaugusto3733]

As a brazilian, I can't remember a sadder day. I have never witnessed a collective grief of this magnitude since. My parents cried, my teachers, my colleagues, my father's employees. The day he died and the day after are imprinted in my memory forever.

[@thefelipelacerda]

The day, that Senna Died, i saw, at the first time, my parents crying, like child! Even my gramma that doesnt know what is a f1 car... it was so so hurtfull.. Miss you ethernal champ!

[@coldvoid]

Touchy stuff :(

[@Serbinator_Dominator]

Felipe Lacerda i was 9 years old watching it live on tv with my dad. We both cried and my dad never watched another formula 1 ever again and we are from Serbia

[@luke-yy5zp]

Nasci em 2000 e o legado dele, de certa forma, alcançou-me. Is Not Superman, Spiderman, Batman or else; Senna is my childhood hero and, nowadays, he is kind of example for me. We miss you champ.

[@gsahrens]

Senna's death had a huge cultural impact in Brazil. It was the first time many children cried and also the first time many of them saw their parents crying.. it was a huge grief.

[@ronbonora7872]

Me and my family also cried in Canada for Senna. We are Italian-Canadians, Ferrari supporters, and we cried for Ayrton! That tells you how great Senna was. RIP Senna!

[@Serbinator_Dominator]

gsahrens he could have been self proclaimed empror of brasil, no one could stoped him .

[@mautrindade]

I was 8 in Brazil when I watched it live - still grieve today.

[@thunderheads4103]

Ayrton is Special. He is the Champion of the World. I talked with a Brazilian and I casually bought up racing and led into Aryton. My. They were flattered. They were impressed with thr fact an American like me know him. But! Ayrton was Brazil. He was Brazil and all the people. They loved him with a deep passion and love. It's amazing. It went more than the heart, to the bone. I could hear it, feel it in her words. I was floored with the passion I heard in her voice talking about Ayrton. He is the Champion.

[@031junior]

As a Brazilian I am, I can tell you . It's been twenty -one years of his death , but the pain I feel is the same as I felt on May 1, 1994 , when I was watching the race on television.

[@elnardowebster2842]

+Junior Galhardo man I was 15, watching the race in my house, in Italy, and, just like you, it feels as painful.

[@ronbonora7872]

As a Italian-Canadian and Ferrari supporter, I still get touched thinking of the day that Senna died. He was the best driver that I have ever seen. One day, we Ferrari supporters were hoping that Senna would drive for Ferrari. RIP Senna, you were the greatest of all time!

[@danielealves7325]

I feel the same way! 😢

[@devongreen7724]

😓😓😓

[@joeycusack8314]

I got into F1 in 1989 as a Mansell fan but over time I grew to love Ayrton Senna. I was amazed by him and I think it was the 1990 German GP which won me over completely. I followed him and F1 until his death in 1994. I was still at high school then and like everyone was deeply affected. The grief was terrible. The Senna film came out in when I was in my early 30s. I learnt new things about him and re-lived those years from my youth with the same intensity of joy and sadness all over again. I re-watched Senna recently and now I am a 40 year old with my own family and the intensity of sadness was so profound because it was the first time I had watched Senna as someone younger than me. I grieved all over again in a way I had never done so before. When Senna died, I was basically a kid and he was 34. Now I am midway through my life and he is still young and he will always be young.

[@kikamercadante8853]

❤ 🇧🇷

[@simonnomis5302]

Senna was a spiritual person with inner light and people can feel that although not comprehend...

[@stefanhammel192]

Ahhh man....12-13 years ago i worked by the dutch KLM and had a Brazilian fellow worker. As a Senna fan i was so glad i could talk to someone from Brazil about Senna ..As i was talking about Senna for about 10-20 seconds i saw tears fallen from his eyes and he couldn't respond to what i had to say. I just stopped the conversation and was a little emotional too and I just let the silence do its work...WOW summ deep sssh!t ….SENNA 4 ever

[@kikamercadante8853]

❤🇧🇷

[@donbilligatti3004]

He will always be young, he will always be fast, he’ll never get old Ayrton Senna will always be champion” 🥺😢

[@coolguyee]

I don't know how John can hold back and suppress the emotion as much as he did. I have a hard time doing it just listening to him. Long live the champion.

[@luke83rj]

I was a child when Ayrton died and I can say that it was the saddest moment that I've ever seen in Brazil.

[@jockellis]

I was that way when Clark died. I can understand your grief. I never cared for F1 after Jim died.

[@A.Santos1]

March 21, 2020 - Anniversary of the greatest of all time. Watching this video again today on what would be Senna's 60th birthday, it still leaves me as emotional as the first time. "He will always be young, he will always be fast." "In some poetic, unjust way...It was almost fitting that he died in a race car." I am Brazilian and, in the face of the inevitable loss, those words are so consoling and comforting to me.

[@SL504NYY26]

I was 13 years old, up bright and early at 6 or 7am(American CST) and I was ready to see my hero start to turn around his bad season. He was the first sportsman I equated to a superhero. From the time I was 5 years old.... He was my getaway from social issues, bullies, bad days etc. Watching him took all bad days away. That day was one of the worse days of my life not just as a fan but in my life in general. Still hurts to watch even a sports car race at Imola.

[@xandocor]

i have 40 years old. And a had the privilege to see those great races ons those unforgettable sundays . Thanks God. I saw the greatest race driver of all times. F1 never more be the same.

[@ionutmihai5172]

This man love Ayrton !!! Very touching moment! Respect!

[@eleanorrigby9826]

Senna is like a saint here in Brazil until today

[@BorisMaximov_27]

Thank you for your words, Mr. Bisignano. Thank you for shaping the way I feel in my heart into words!

[@michael88863]

it's funny John is so right.....Senna has not aged. Prost is old and grey. In a sense the great Ayrton is in suspended animation - forever

[@makemarker]

same as my good friend who died on his motorbike, he will always remain 25 young and full of life

[@michael88863]

i was 18 when he died - in my eyes i am now 4 years older than him - surreal

[@castlebravo1467]

Yeah. Senna will always be young. He will always be fast and he will always be a champion. So, in that way he is immortal.

[@aaronisgrate]

i said the same exact thing about my friend who died on his motorbike as well . same age 25

[@burns985]

I was 9. Thank you John !

[@michael88863]

i am in tears.............

[@Stonedead1991]

Thumbs up for John. Great guy.

[@rosssoutherland8118]

Thank you John for this touching interview about Ayrton. ❤️🙏 I watched his every race & saw him qualify in person in Phoenix. John you made F-1 so much more exciting & better by just being in the pits my friend. I still have my “Bring back the Biz” shirt. God bless you always ❤️🙏

[@sammyraz6628]

GOD BLESS you John Bisignano. You are a true F1 historian and one of the greatest f1 journalist that the world has known, followed you and David Hobbs during the espn days of f1. Although, I missed opportunities to meet Ayrton once. I regret it for the rest of my life. Through your emotion and eloquent expression I grieved his passing. Thank you for such a powerful thought .

[@danieljohnlevy]

Damn that last part made me speechless

[@madeleinebelle2105]

Thank you for this ... I watched the documentary on Ayrton Senna again last night...his passion, courage, generosity for the sport and his country. Also his expertise in driving through his favourite weather condition rain! I can't remember whether it was John Bisignano or Richard Williams who described in detail how difficult that would be. I agree it was a very touching interview.

[@mickavellian]

So... A totally impartial man , interviews Ayrton ONE HUNDRED TIMES and just breaks down crying. Journalists are meant to be tough, detached, but such was Ayrton MAGIC. YES ... He was a GOD and not only for his beloved Brazil, he was declared a living GOD (kami) in Japan and it is revered as such. John is right perhaps the accident was HIS way to die. I can NOT imagine a 60 year old Ayrton dying of cancer. I do NOT think Latin AMerica has ever produced such a man . Born in Brazil but adopted by the whole world. Such was his charm & intelligence that the only controversial interview with Jackie Stewart did not stop Stewart to be at his funeral. THAT transcends professionalism , THAT was a tribute to a man who deserves every accolade he ever got. Like someone says "Born in Sao Paulo .. lives in eternity"

[@ronbonora7872]

I agree!

[@danieldravot341]

John,

[@jamski41]

senna is the best.. simply the best. I wear my Brazil soccer top.. in respect of senna

[@richnewall8564]

A man speaking from his soul and in such an eloquent way. Ayrton will always remain young, as all of us who remember that fateful spring day grow old. Legends Never Die. Eternal peace be granted to a special man who touched so many lives, and still does through his foundation.

[@Scottyboy9999]

It feels so long ago now. I was 17 on the day he died. I saw his head move slightly as his wrecked car finally came to rest. I thought he was just injured but it was soon clear this was far more serious than first thought. I don't fans of Senna will ever get over what happened. Time heals but it will always be painful. I dearly miss his incredible drive and mystical persona. F1 has never been the same since

[@xilix]

+Scottyboy9999 I was 13, and it was the first time I ever experienced considerable grief. I remember going into my bedroom and sitting on my bed and being overcome with tears. Might sound cheesy, but that moment changed my life. I was forever aware of mortality in a way I wasn't even capable of before. Before that moment I was still living in a child's dreamland. Of course, I've experienced far more immense grief since then, but that first feeling of grief and subsequent, permanent awareness resulting from it are still cemented in my mind.

[@mbas0507]

+xilix hey my friend, yours , are one the smartest comment I have ever read in youtube or anywhere, keep enjoying your life and don't forget ever what Ayrton did accidentally in your life. a hug , I have read your words 5 times !

[@nessuno5403]

Damn that roll of the head... I naively thought he would be ok and was glad Ferrari would move up in youthful ignorance. A Senna fan since.

[@juanjosky]

That day I watched the race. I had 11 years at that moment. Was a terrible sensation. My parents was very concern about what happen in Imola. Later the news announced Ayrton's death. Was devastating for all of us. I never accept that. For me Ayrton is still driving in all the circuits of the world and reminds me "to be always the best". Greetings from Chile.

[@4488leona]

People from different countries cry for Senna. I'm from Russia.

[@xandocor]

I'm cryin like a baby...thank you Jhon..Really miss that sundays mornings in Brazil.

[@komine866]

that was powerful

[@JohnDoe-ow7bi]

Thanks a lot John, very honest and emotional!

[@rytisvaitkus4059]

the wonderful dedication about senna ever

[@thiaguinhooitodois2211]

Senna was my childhood hero. He believed in not giving 80%, 90%. Senna believed in giving 125%. He believed in fighting for what you thought you were worth. He knew Brazil was a backwards country. How poverty was and still is big in Brazil. He wanted to show the world that even though he did come from a rich family that he loved his people, loved his land and wanted to show all Brazilians to fight for everything in life. Look at how he drives. It was more than driving.

[@shooter7a]

No one gives 125%. Comical.

[@TheTomshark]

John , you're an Excellent guy !! you got it , give a break about tears to shed !! However I coudn't do it seeing your emotional speech !! Thank you from RIO de JANEIRO !!

[@nicktoogood6790]

I remember watching the race live as a 15-year-old on the BBC that Sunday afternoon, seeing Senna's accident and all the replays while just thinking "I hope he's alright." The BBC had their own cameras at a foreign Grand Prix for the first time at Imola and chose not to show the medical crews working on Senna like Eurosport did. They just cut to shots of the fans in the stands and the pit lane/grid with drivers and team members preparing for the re-start. Then at the end of the race the BBC presenter Steve Rider announced Senna had died and F1 changed forever...

[@ulysse21]

Typical of BBC.

[@FEARYOYOYO]

@@ulysse21yeah Eurosports heli shot of the resuscitation attempt was so much better

[@macsalves8090]

For me Senna is live on his legacy of determination and humanity. It's sad he died but his inspiration thing is more important than sadnesses.

[@INTJ91]

Amazing interview, spoken with such passion. The first bit was so sad...

[@kaceyolivercox]

very moving interview. senna is such an amazing film. thanks john.

[@andrewpante6047]

Love John . Always full of poetry and passion !

[@Lima547]

I came here after watching Senna’s movie, where John interviews him. Senna forever!

[@Ghostmotorfinger]

Senna is the greatest of all-time in Formula One forever.

[@thestick52]

Ayrton Senna da Silva lives... RIP ❤️

[@gold333]

I did not expect this. Wow. I saw Senna in 1994 live. Hope to meet you Mr Bisignano in the next few months/year.

[@TheSwanlake2009]

John yiou did such an awesome job interviewing f1 for espn back in the day. You are a great legend yourself. Your services will be remembered.

[@michaelk9056]

Why do American guys refuse to cry on camera. He was just so composed. I don't understand why? Senna was emotional.

[@pedemeyer]

Beautifull.

[@StargazerFS128]

Senna, in our hearts and minds, will always be not only the greatest driver ever but, a hero for the ages.

[@mustainelady493]

Senna forever.

[@henriqueferreira465]

OBRIGADO SENNA!!!

[@afenijmeijer9027]

And this is why Senna will always be the greatest driver of them all. No other driver has this charisma or legacy. No one. Not Fangio, Clark,Moss, Schumacher,Stewart, Lauda, Hamilton. The only one closer than these is Gilles Villeneuve.

[@Dashriprock4]

Fangio. Many speak of him the same way

[@maxgentile3441]

Mister Bisignano tell nearly all of Was Ayrton...But Beco Still Today Is Alive..In Our Hearts And Our Mind IS Always Number One...ti voglio bene Amico mio caro..unico grande ...per SEMPRE SOLO AYRTON Forever BECO..

[@DONDI3232]

Hats Off To John.!!

[@clarkanorak]

Brilliant commentary on the movie!

[@viannarts]

I was 17 when senna passed, I didnt want to cry when he died because i thought it was silly to cry for somebody from TV that I never met, In Brazil, the monday after the crash we gathered with all the students in school and the principal made a speech about Ayrton and his carrier and that was the moment that it stroke me, getting sad the most to think that I would never see him on TV again, it was a terrible afternoon, I cried a bit that day, I never watched any race after that.

[@marcuswyness4815]

even today 2018 , i still feel the pain like i did watching the tragic events live on TV . Its true its tragically fitting for him to die in a race car . God bless u Ayrton u will always be one of the greatest

[@charleshanna3184]

To this day i remember senna hitting the wall and how Italian TV went to a still camera. Murray walker was speechless. I woke up at 4am to hear the news on BBC radio of his death. While i was never an avid senna fan, you cannot doubt his brilliance, To some people like myself i cannot understand why some of the manouveres he did where required, Today they are banned such as the blocking and swerving from side to side. but to be fair they were allowed back then. I also remember the Jackie Stewart interview after japan 1990, senna took offence but a few years later Senna apologized to Jackie. Jackie was right that he had more car to car contact than all the past champions put together. His generosity to underprivileged people is so warm and genuine that you cannot wonder how Brazil would be today if he was alive.

[@caseykubota]

John, if i may call you John, your words about MY HERO OF ALL TIME ,resonates how i feel to today !!!

[@gabifromhell]

Ayrton broke that huge rivalry between Argentinians and Brazilians. Senna el más grande, siempre!

[@cristianoronaldo7037]

great video. cheers from brazil

[@fpsqt]

Everybody out there ... do NOT watch the vanilla, cut down to pieces, shorter version of the SENNA movie. Find the uncut version, which is almost twice the time longer. It contains precious interviews not only from Bisignano but from other journalists who covered F1 racing during the 80s and 90s. They give excellent context to whatever Ayrton lived on the race tracks.

[@MartinBradyRallyCoDriver]

fpsqt thank you for describing an uncut version, I never knew of it, where can you find it? Thanks

[@MartinBradyRallyCoDriver]

@El ton great link, thank you for sharing it.

[@shooter7a]

The narrative in the Senna movie is near fiction. It totally mis-characterizes the relationship between Prost, Senna and Sennas family. In doing so, it mis-characterizes Senna the person.

[@kwirkkwirksn1090]

how can you find amazing words like this

[@martindigregorioacosta8769]

great words! nothing else to say.

[@mbas0507]

JUST amazing interview to john, its incredible what ayrton produces in the heart of everyone. AND LET ME TELL YOU I was not an Ayrton fan, he was a pain in the .... for me because I was a Mansell fan, but every one knows that Ayrton was always..one step ahead...always..

[@Gabrielnobre]

He and Mansel presented us with unforgetable moments...Mansel was called “the lion”, and he surr was.

[@neidexter]

................. even heroes dies.....

[@michaelkamensky6230]

John was a staple of F1 coverage on ESPN in the United States as their traveling track-side reporter and was always a deep thinker, and this was absolutely superb, the single best statement about Senna by anyone I've seen who worked with Ayrton. And about Senna's first name -- I distinctly remember that American ESPN viewers apparently gave play-by-play man Bob Varsha so much grief about how he pronounced Ayrton as like "eye-AIR-ton" rather than just "AIR-ton" that Bisignano went around to all of the drivers and asked them to pronounce their whole name. And the last one? Senna, clearly saying "eye-AIR-ton." That settled *that* argument!

[@agustinguevara8054]

AYRTON SENNA STAY THE SAME !! HASNT AGED ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@TobcioccLeyton]

I was at the circuit, wasn't sure what had happened. The Air Ambulance took off to a round of applause so we knew it was serious. Only after the race when we saw candles at the Tamburello did we realise how bad things were.

[@mbas0507]

would like to meet that one , that does not like this video... ??? amazingly sincere about a Legend like Ayrton, from another legend like John Bisignano

[@samermazahreh]

came here through Antti Kalhola's video of Ayrton Senna, F1 - From São Paulo To Eternity

[@1agent0]

If You are an f1 fan You Will always Remember what You did on that damned May the First 1994.

[@peterzebot1795]

Oh my schmaltz meter just hit 11.

[@cesarovermars6431]

I remember him from the Senna documentary, the sentence including "Ayrton's love for the truth..." always stuck with me. What a load of BS that was. I'm not saying Senna was a bad person, not at all, but he was able to spew plenty of nonsense when it suited him. To say this guy has some god complex for Senna is an understatement.

[@1970vlad]

Which driver will be remembered and perhaps loved as Senna is ??

[@raymondchan3618]

I can't name one driver worldwide. I am pretty sure till these days, for 27 years, many tears are still dropping everyday thinking about him.

[@rafaeloda]

I guess i got what john said, Senna's death contributed to his Legend of Motoracing status. Like clark his carreer was finished on the apex.

[@michael88863]

so true the day he died was like yesterday for me - and since then he in my eyes has always been at the peak of his powers metaphorically.

[@pedrodurrer9630]

When he had the race car accident I gave up with Formula 1 races😢

[@strathambrixton4965]

How come nobody speaks about the fact he gave all his money to the poor … littrely all his milliond

[@paulquinn-compassrose614]

John Bisignano's interview reeks of self inportance about the fact that he knew Ayrton Senna. Senna was the fastest of his generation. but all myths are blown out of proportion

[@Pasovineyard]

12Senna

[@maxgentile3441]

In few minutes j think he said What Ayton WAS. A Person BETTER than a great driver in Formula 1 HISTORY..Because Ayrton Was differenti..Was special..Was Carismatic better than anyone in HISTORY..

[@marsenmoon]

As much as a see him as the best and honest that the sport needed , he always want to play fair , in the fastest car ofcourse , but fair ! I think maybe he is lucky that he wasnt there in the following cheating years , from '94 up till '2004 , and maybe even till this day , the cheating would have killed him , giving him high blood pressure and or even heart faillure , that is the only thing im happy about for him not to have to deal with dishonesty anymore !!

[@hamdikahraman]

İyi video.

[@HyperHorse]

This wasn't in the film "Senna". This isn't an interview. This is just John talking. Not interesting.

[@danieldravot341]

John, are you certain you interviewed Senna that often, or was there another guy who did that more frequently on your show?

[@chunder27]

I found this disturbing that a man who ought to be a professional would call his friend Ayrton and Alain, Prost, he was clearly biased and that to me is not the job of a journalist at all.

[@shooter7a]

Well the movie completely and unfairly mischaracterized Prost and their relationship. It was a manufactured narrative that was dishonest. John Bisignano was part of the lie.