Top Gear : A tribute to Ayrton Senna, one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time

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[@b_bgs-rf8yp]

That phrase “he was spectacular every single time he got in a car” gives me chills every single time

[@petrolheads13]

I double you

[@richardhall6560]

There is an unedited version of this film available on't tinterweb.

[@Stickleback]

every fan`s thought

[@Alex_Hetherington]

I would go one better and say he was spectacular every second of his living life.

[@henrydover-porter1008]

The fact that Schumacher put Senna as number one says something

[@petrolheads13]

For me there are 2 guys who are still the greatest one is Senna and the other is Jim Clark : kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXXZq3iXbLGUqNk

[@petrolheads13]

@Ian Robert Davies Absolutely true

[@jvac1co]

@@petrolheads13 and Jim Clark was one of the greatest for Ayrton too.. Only Fangio would compete with him for Ayrton.. Thank you for keeping my hero memory alive

[@stevehale123]

@@petrolheads13 nail on the head , both so so talented. Also my top two

[@sonicboove4865]

It would be very arrogant if he said himself, he had to choose somebody else.

[@jackspry9736]

RIP Ayrton Senna (March 21, 1960 - May 1, 1994), aged 34 And RIP Roland Ratzenberger (July 4, 1960 - April 30, 1994), aged 33 You both will be remembered as legends.

[@carlobalzer3238]

This year 30th anniversary R I P f1 legend 😢

[@crunchytheclown9694]

I saw that race, f1 died that day

[@MarieLacey]

​@@crunchytheclown9694same, absolutely awful weekend!

[@craiglove7528]

Yep. Remember it well. Initially I thought he was ok as his head moved. I was shocked when they announced he’d died.

[@StewartEvans52]

@@crunchytheclown9694 Me too i was 11 years old and it still for me is the worst weekeend,Roland the Senna same weekend

[@andrewlarkin3074]

​@@crunchytheclown9694 Yeah I still follow but it was never the same without him

[@renatodumaresq]

The only correction is: he was not loved for us, Brazilians, because of charity. But because he was our Sunday morning hero!

[@pinkchckn]

It's way deeper than that. He showed national pride in a time where brazilians felt worthless. That's why even people who weren't into sports or racing watched him, because they wanted to see "the only good thing brazil has to offer".

[@TheLolli84]

True😢

[@brunofailache]

It's been 30 years this week. No way I can watch this without shedding down a few tears...

[@redsidebiker]

He's the best I've EVER seen and I've been watching for 50 years

[@Deontjie]

So, this is a tribute to the best, and they let Hamilton speak. Couldn't they got Alonso, Hakinin, Shecktor or someone else?

[@Stevesixty7]

@Deontijie This wasn't filmed last week, and at least get their names right. Why do you think they used Hamilton back then? I'll wait for your silly response.

[@Deontjie]

@@Stevesixty7 That is exactly my problem. Why use one of the greatest F1 drivers and one of the silliest drivers in one video?

[@richardmortimer8147]

Yes, but a big downside was his 'track terror.' Please don't get me wrong, I watched Senna from 1979 in karting. He was 'magic,' but for all the plusses, he has a big minus.

[@user-mf9ut1ts8k]

​@@Deontjiewouldn't call one of the best ever a silly driver.

[@OneWayTicketToTheMoon]

The best driver ever. Real men in real cars.

[@_Diamond-Dog]

Facts

[@sennathegreatone8827]

I was on the grandstands in Silverstone in 91 near Becketts...the #1 McLaren passing through is one the most memorable things that I can remember...incredible driver RIP Ayrton Senna

[@gedhoughton9523]

Jim Clark had the feeling of everything going on in the car. Could detect a problem with suspension at max pelt. Lauda was a genius. Prost was the calculator. Senna was the instinct decision maker.

[@petrolheads13]

Could not agree more bro..

[@leecook6854]

That’s how my mum described them all like u she’s a smart cookie ❤

[@daarom3472]

and Max is the machine, born from 2 top drivers and raised from a young age to destroy.

[@MuslimTruth91]

He wasn't one of the greatest F1 driver of all time, he was THE greatest driver of all time.

[@petrolheads13]

That might be subjective bro, have a look at Jim Clark

[@andrewauto6082]

@@petrolheads13 absolutely not imo

[@kashyappadh3474]

@@andrewauto6082 thats why I said it is subjective 🙂

[@TheXJRMAN]

Jim Clark - ^that's the man^ GOAT.@@petrolheads13

[@malakisands8180]

I would put Michelle Mouton as in the circle with Senna, Clark, Lauda, Moss

[@PandA-yx5ne]

Love or hate Clarkson. He is a legend himself. This is one of the greatest pieces of motor-sport journalism. In the world.

[@petrolheads13]

Very true...Top Gear used to be the most viewed motor-sport program at one one time and it was majorly because of him. Same was the case with Grand tour.

[@richardcochrane1966]

I always recall Alain Prost's prophetic words not long before the crash - "Ayrton has only one problem - he drives like he thinks he can't be killed!"

[@springbokkie_center9399]

I was chilled to the bone when I heard those words on the documentary

[@threadtapwhisperer5136]

That drive at Donnington, in the wet, flubs the start, then takes back 5 places in 1 lap to lead. Not to soften to impact of Sennas other performances. The man was amazing.

[@crippledcrusader1321]

To me one of the biggest moments in sports history is Ayrton winning in Brazil. The moment where he stepped onto the podium, and raised that trophy, it’s such an inspiring moment

[@gresby1082]

Totally agree. I have that moment tattooed on my arm.

[@liamthompson2604]

Ayrton Senna is simply the greatest of all time!!. Not just because of the man he was on track but because of the man he was off track. What Jeremy Clarkson said at the end was very poignant but he is right on the money. He was spectacular every time he got in that cockpit.

[@ninja12lawbreaker]

When Senna came to europe as the new boy he was given a wild card ticket to join the race at the Nurburgring to celebrate Mercedes new 190E model. He was very young and it started raining there, as usual. He annihilated all the worlds best racing drivers in a new car and on a circuit he'd never seen before. He then got a test in Nikki Lauda's racing car and took nearly 2 seconds off his world championship winning speed. Mc Laren signed him there and then at the test, obviously. He arrived in europe as the Brazilian go cart champion

[@jerryleelewis8979]

As a German i MUST say not Schuhmacher or Fangio was the Greatest, this was only Senna, the Master of Rain Races. It was one of the saddest days in History of F1.

[@RAZR_Channel]

Schuhmacher would beat Senna ... He did so.. and without recklessly endangering and ramming other drivers of the track as senna did... Other great Champions should not have to live in the Constant shadow of senna who according to the records Was Not the greatest... Ran his own teammate off the track... go suspended for "Dangerous" driving... None of which Schuhmacher and others would do. Every driver has had their dirty moves but in that department senna certainly is number 1. And if you don't think so check Stewart going at senna in that infamous interview which is here on YT. People just keep repeating like parrots...

[@RAZR_Channel]

I mean for Real.. would Michael or Rubens Ever run into each other on turn 1..??

[@Berchol]

@@RAZR_Channelwhat a sad world you live in innit

[@ricardagottschalk_duran2677]

@@RAZR_ChannelNever read so much Bullshit😡😡😡

[@RAZR_Channel]

@@Berchol Its ALL Video Recorded history... you're just a senna parrot... Would you like some bird feed...?

[@_Diamond-Dog]

I remember 94 ,f1 was never the same and it will never be the same I miss you ayrton, always 😮‍💨

[@MERKAMGCLK]

Senna was, is and shall forever be the Greatest of all time.

[@alanluscombe8a553]

Hands down. Best racing mind ever

[@shiftfocus1]

May 1 1994, the race start was 6 am my time, and I was a bit late getting up. I tuned in to the overhead shot of Senna lying in the car, and I knew. I had not realized what having a hero meant until I had lost mine.

[@KGI_KlikoNL]

A lot knew. Only the race directors did not want to recognize as then straight the whole race would have been stopped and never finished.

[@ProfiDriftTeam]

forgot to mention that the year before Prost hit Senna and won the championship and only later did Senna the next year. And that puts him in a different light

[@MuslimTruth91]

I don't know what you mean, but what's certain is that Senna is the best driver in the history of F1, better than Fangio, Ascari, Clark, Schumacher, Hamilton, or any other F1 driver before or after him. He deserved to win the Formula 1 World Championship title in 1989, but Alain Prost came crying to his French friend and F1 executive to penalize Senna when he had done nothing forbidden or illegal. And what's more, Prost decided to leave F1 just as Senna decided to join Williams, the best team at the time, because the 1992 and 1993 seasons he'd had were excellent compared with his bad cars, but he wanted to win the world title and therefore wanted the fastest car for himself.

[@ChuckMarteau]

@@MuslimTruth91 Oh please. Prost could have easily won 2 more titles. Heʻs the one who advised McLaren to hire Senna. And he scored more points than Senna while at McLaren, in fact he outscored every team mate he ever had.

[@tiemendt5535]

@@MuslimTruth91 While Senna was certainly the best rain driver and qualifier of them all, I don't agree 100% with your statement. Yes, Prost won by politics in 1989, but Senna was an idiot for trying to pass Prost in that corner as the Frenchman had the right to defend his line and Senna probably could have taken him on the next lap. The way Senna defended would earn him 10 penalties every race in nowadays. Nelson Piquet stated that Senna and Schumacher were the two dirtiest drivers he raced during his carreer. And like Chuck says, it was Prost's idea to bring Senna to the team. It was also Prost who taught Senna the importance of setting up a car. Finally, when Senna called Prost a coward for not letting him join Williams, he seemed to have forgotten that he himself did the same thing to Derek Warwick when he was still with Lotus. He was spectacular and amazing, but for these points, I still put Clark and Fangio ahead of him on my GOAT list.

[@eagleandguitarguy44]

To all American NASCAR fans watching this, let me translate: Senna was F1’s Dale. Plain and simple.

[@jpgrygus]

I had the privilege of 'meeting' Senna in the early 90s at the Adelaide Hilton. I worked as a kitchen steward. My work mate and i were emptying bins down at the loading bay. A McLaren car pulled into the underground carpark. From a distance we could see a group of gorgeous looking women come out and one guy. As they came closer we could see it was Senna. We just stood their gawking in awe. He gave us a nod. He used the service lifts in the hotel to keep out of sight of the main public. The year he died the hotel had an atmosphere of gloom and sadness. We loved him.

[@jobson586]

Senna never blamed a rubbish car for failing to win, just himself. Senna the Movie, he was way larger than F1 will ever be.

[@Hellenic_Empire1980]

Not one of the best drivers. Simply THE BEST FUCKING PILOT EVER!!

[@petrolheads13]

True bro..but for me he is one of the 2 all time best, along with Jim Clark

[@hugotogner168]

​@@petrolheads13agree on Clark. He was phenomenal. It's impossible to say who is the best F1 driver of all time, but Fangio, Senna and Clark are top 3 for me.

[@jordansoukoulis8426]

@@hugotogner168what about michael and alain?????????

[@user-ph8ee5gv2f]

Senna is & always will be the G.O.A.T enough said ✊✊✊

[@rockytekkel406]

So true .... until Max showed up.

[@Pa-tk1dx]

Put everyone in the same car and Senna wins. I didnt see Jim Clark but from what I've heard and seen on film hes right up there with Senna. A privilege to have watched Senna many many times. He was fearless, quick and gifted

[@trottergraeme]

The word 'One' of the greatest F1 drivers of all time is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence. Fangio, Hill, Schumacher, Villeneuve, Clarke. They were all greats, but Senna was something special.

[@malcubed2327]

30 years ago today...

[@luciangabriel5251]

The most complet pilot în the world helped by Honda masterpiece motors!

[@petrolheads13]

True there is no doubt about that.

[@neilbowers6956]

I am like Lewis Hamilton when it comes to knowing when and where I was when I heard that this racing legend had died. I was watching the qualifying while serving in the Royal Airforce and down in an R3 Bunker and seeing him hit that barrier with such force and speed. You knew he'd died but hoped and prayed he hadn't. I even remember being a litter collector at the 1990 British Grand Prix and we had access all areas and I mean access all areas. I managed to get up close to Senna and get a picture, which I still have to this day. Undoubtedly the best F1 driver that has ever raced.

[@petrolheads13]

very well put in sir

[@KepleroGT]

I would wish to be as lucky as you sir. I'd keep that photo close to my heart

[@Advoc8te4Truth]

Seeing a car fishtail shows that the car was operating at its maximum capacity to provide torque yet stay on the track.....simply amazing ❤😂

[@BretHill1085]

This TG episode is literally the beginning of everyone realizing how great he was on a larger scale than just F1 fans. My son is named after him for a reason, he truly was the greatest because he inspired and captivated what all drivers aspire to be and what fans want to watch.

[@djdefaut6869]

RIP Ayrton Senna.

[@manuelcogneau3712]

Senna’s level of passion and ruthlessness was unique. And still get emotional watching tributes.

[@Alina-gz1zp]

I was 6yrs old wen i saw Senna Racing and i instant knew he was the best, none could do what he did.It was so cool to see him racing with Mansell etc.... they ware the most skilled drivers in that era.

[@petrolheads13]

absolutely true. No doubt in that..I believe there is a category of drivers who are judged based on their titles & records and others who are judged based on their driving. For eg: Schumi and Hamilton both have won the highest number of titles..that does not mean they are not good, but then there is a different category that includes : Senna, Jim Clark. These guys are simply on a next level. Infact Schumi himself states Senna is number 1 without any doubt.

[@NWJF]

Not only was Senna the greatest. In this instance, he was showcased by one of the greatest television programs of all time. This spotlights all the things that made Top Gear great. If great driver's found a few tenths and Senna found a second. Vintage Top Gear found seconds. Top Gear on Senna cant be beat.

[@gilvansouza]

The 1993 season was so special. I think that season there was an acceptance even by his detractors that we were watching something very special, very unique and very rare. The way he dragged the McLaren around was just tremendous, really unforgettable.

[@Alban-ux8jf]

He may have not won as many titles as Schumacher, but every time he was behind the wheel, you could feel the excitement. You knew you'd see something spectacular. Only one other sportsman has given me similar emotions. Another Brazilian - Ronaldinho

[@mariojakel5544]

Senna had a idol and his idol was maybe better as Ayrton : Jim Clark imagine he started by the 1000km of the Nürburgring 1962 in a Lotus with only 120hp against the complete world elite in cars with much more power(Ferrari 330 over 300hp or Dino 246 with 270hp) and after the first round he was 20ec in front of all in the Rain and only a defekt stoped him not the drying Track. or his 1965 season he won the Tasman serie, got the formula 2 Title in Australia, France and England + won the secound Time the F1 Worldchampionchip + win the Indy 500 and he also drive a Lotus Cortina in the Touring Car Championchip all in one year.

[@thelonerizla1]

​@@mariojakel5544famous quote from Senna "I have no idols or mentours , I admire hard work and competence"

[@mariojakel5544]

@@thelonerizla1 "The “Jim Clark Room” in Duns, Scotland, not far from his farm Edington Mains in the Scottish Borders, is still visited every year by many thousands of fans from all over the world. Ayrton Senna also visited this exhibition space to learn more about his idol, undisturbed by the press and curious people, and gave a lecture in Clark's former school in Edinburgh."

[@thelonerizla1]

@@mariojakel5544 I got it wrong anyway. I read it in a book . I just googled it, and it reads, "I have no idols , I admire hard work , dedication and competence." It's literally all over the net . I'm not here for an argument, I just had that written on a sign in my workshop, and it sprung to mind when I read your original reply. Appreciate your reply and I learned something there .

[@richardmortimer8147]

He was also "spectacular every time he got in a" kart! John Pudney called him "Magic!" (That was 1979)...

[@MellowWater]

He wasn't one of the greatest, he was The Greatest of All Time!

[@SonjaWendhack1-yj1qk]

Er war der beste, ein absolutes Genie auch bei Regen einfach unschlagbar und beeindruckend seine Fahrzeugbeherschung.

[@petrolheads13]

Daran besteht kein zweiter Zweifel :-)

[@_Diamond-Dog]

His vehicle control was another level

[@FM1163-xo9br]

Senna! Simply the best.

[@leonscheepers5350]

I remember becoming a Senna fan in the late eighties - my saying then was: He either crashes, blows up an engine or wins. Nobody like him as ever got into a car again. he was unique ... he was the BEST.

[@Wifi-eq7sr]

Once in a lifetime. The standard bearer. RIP Ayrton.

[@denisrivarola2387]

F1 should find ways to make the cars more equal, and bring the power back up just a notch.

[@Caddynars]

Senna is synonymous with the peak of F1. He was legendary in every sense of the word. He stood head and shoulders above the pack, and was fearless on the track. You could put him in just about any F1 car, and he could make it do things no other driver could have even thought was possible.

[@lucassterquino]

Fantastic. Incredible. I was four when he died, and I remember that day. Thank you 🙏🏼🇧🇷

[@jmfasi]

Brilliant driver and a better human being.

[@BrunoCornelsen]

Oh man, I miss those Sundays here in Brazil. On the national TV transmission there was even an "victory theme" track that played every time he won. Nothing matches that feeling today on TV.

[@BrunoCornelsen]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWW2aoulgs2ifMU

[@waynebarker8308]

A bitter sweet day for me as it was my Daughter's 1st birthday and was watching the race on tv 😢 I no longer follow F1 because there will never be anyone better than Ayrton.

[@mankyiel1]

Thats true ! I quit also

[@TheRedShadow74]

i love the way hamiton giggles like a kid when driving senna's car

[@virgin26]

This is when Top Gear was Boss

[@KGI_KlikoNL]

He was near Holy in Brazil and a legend in Brazil and the rest of the World.

[@MellowWater]

What an absolute badass, like this is the kinda man you'd find in story books! An absolute legend!

[@DavidMuirhead-lx4wv]

Badass? He was. Enter than that.

[@eduardocfl]

He was the best …amazing 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@crunchytheclown9694]

Senna is the goat

[@petrolheads13]

Senna, & Jim Clark

[@crunchytheclown9694]

Didnt like prost but probably deserves a mention

[@janarthananpoornavel6096]

Brings me tears every time

[@Adam-vi8ku]

He helped so many people❤ like millions!!

[@penguinpie5056]

villeneuve is one of my favourites too. but senna is like a mirror finish.

[@BranislavRadojevic]

Immortal legend,forever my no.1

[@CardinalKaos]

Wild that its been 30 years of him gone

[@franklinnash]

I think that is one of the problems with modern F1, not one of our current crop of drivers is a lunatic.

[@ithinkitworks]

1200 HP and no downforce, winning a wet race on slicks. Lets call it a day!

[@neildeklerk8787]

Watching Senna drive was a privilege, this man was as Clarkson said spectacular all of the time! No comparison he was the best! We will not witness another like him in our lifetime, as a Lewis fan but I would put Senna far ahead of any driver ever

[@suasponte8363]

Great person all around and the best ever!

[@arkashrampadarath9118]

Senna is truly the F1 GOAT 🏆 A real legend 🙌 👏 🙏

[@fagabeefe2648]

Much like Lewis, whom I cannot even hold a candle to in any way possible, I know exactly where I was when Senna died. Sitting in my mom's living room, up at the wee hours of the morning to watch the race (I think on Speed Channel?), and watching him crash. Unfortunately nobody knew at the time that he was dead, but I recall watching the sporting news outlets to hear what happened. Senna was, and will always will be, the greatest racing driver ever. The way he could drive a car, good or not, was always amazing. RIP Ayrton, god speed, I'm sure you are going as fast as ever wherever you are.

[@chicobicalho5621]

3:08 and this Lotus was essentially the same car Nelson Piquet, a 3 time world chamion, referred to as "a truck" in 1988.

[@mathiasforslund1496]

Maybe, but the black Lotus had the powerful Renault engine and the yellow just got a taste of Honda power =)

[@rekdinhopoetico]

Senna and Schummi are number one to me. Then, Alain Prost, another legend.

[@fortijr]

I’ve watched this many, many times. Thank you. I will never forget the moment he died.

[@petrolheads13]

Coming that from a viewer it feels great. Thanks a lot for watching. It really means a lot to me

[@deebee68]

The best EVER

[@sujanpatra8930]

He will always be young in our hearts ❤❤❤

[@charlesgrimm13]

People forget when he took Prost out it was because Prost took him out the previous year.

[@marcorusconi658]

He did the right thing, so Balestre can't change again the cards on the table to made Prost again the winner

[@TheJokerit19]

30 years ago today.

[@stewartgrindlay9760]

Everyone get a lump in your throat at the end knowing what was lost. But we can smile what we gained from the lessons of his and Roland’s passing. Ps for the poster you should add in the Top Gear section at the end. There was no joke for the 1st time ever (bombshell). It would the video off nicely

[@leewainwright3526]

no one could touch him when he was on it from any era all out committed in every corner ringing the arse out of that Mclaren they'll never be another senna

[@superstrongr]

I also remember exactly where I was when he died… the Goat.

[@legibby]

This video changed my life 15 years ago

[@leecook6854]

Aim in he was unbelievably the greatest in my eye as a no fear driver ❤

[@user-cj1kz8jf4y]

Generous ❤

[@azynkron]

The Mp4/4 did not have 1200 bhp though.

[@felipefonseca5670]

They should have used Hunt coments about Senna in this tribute.

[@pp-bb6jj]

Back when F1 was a man's man sport. I'm nostalgic about a time I wasn't even born.

[@springbokkie_center9399]

Rei de chuva 👑🇧🇷 Senna Sempre

[@user-hd9nc7zp1v]

Sad how many racers died young. Ken Miles Bruce McLaren Roland Ratzenberger Ayrton Senna James Hunt

[@darylrack4637]

What can you say, that hasn't been said already. He was, and he still is a very special driver and human being in 50 years and more people will still talk about a man called Ayton Senna.

[@WhyForWhatNow]

8:24 what an asshole move.... i fucking love it 😂❤

[@seanbonella]

30th anniversary today.... MAY 1ST 2024

[@Harryhyde69]

Ayrton Senna is THE best to ever do it. Today he would destroy everyone. Verstappen wouldn't be able to handle his inside pressure and would beat him 60% of the time.

[@zacmich6472]

I think I was 14 or 15 then. After that I just lost interest in watching F1 anymore. Today I still love cars, am an enthusiast driver, watch car shows, but haven't been watching F1 for 30 years

[@michaelcooper4986]

I never understood the politics of F1 at the time as I was 8 9 10 years old at the time all I knew is you where either team Prost or team Senna looking back at things Senna was the goat

[@simonback9335]

You always could tell the best drivers on what they did in the rain and the top 3 of all time in the Rain are Senna , M Schumacher and Hamilton

[@DavidMuirhead-lx4wv]

To be the best driver, you need to race against the champions, and he did.

[@Chatta-Ortega]

I really don't know who the greatest F1 driver is. I'll leave that up to the drivers and the experts. What I will say is watching Senna race generated more joy and admiration than anyone else.

[@davidfoster3814]

Senna , in his F3 days , or maybe earlier, used to live in Reading . 😮 There is now an Ayrton Senna Road in Reading . But oddly it’s not where he used to live !

[@adanlgfernandez7152]

Es el mejor piloto que he visto jamás! En agua tenía un talento muy superior a cualquier piloto se escapaba y nadie lo podía seguir! Coleccionista de poles su pilotaje al máximo de grip le permitía hacer exteriores y un pilotaje también defensivo increíble! Su pilotaje era genial! Ayrton Senna 1

[@joyleenpoortier7496]

RIP Ayrton Senna

[@tylerdurden2518]

Any edit with Radiohead tunes goes up up up ❤❤❤

[@juan_valdez117]

Fr I wasn’t expecting it but it fit so well. Trying to figure out what that first song was though around 1:35