Whether they are young or old, Formula 1 fans or not, one word comes back on the lips of everyone we met: respect. “Senna is a reference for many Brazilians”, explains Kasller M., aged 40. “In addition to being above the rest as a pilot, he filled the nation's need for a hero. Politicians have caused too much misery to the people. Ayrton Senna's success and his desire to win meant that he was fiercely adored.. Even for those who were born years after the death of the great Ayrton, the imprint of the Paulist remains very strong. “We heard about him from school”confides Welington B., 22 years old. “In Brazil there are school notebooks called Senninha, so we have always heard of the great Ayrton!”
Erik Comas: “I am the last driver to see Senna”
At the time of the accident, I thought he was going to be okay. It took me a while to realize he was dead.
Images of Brazilians crying at the news of Ayrton's death are making the rounds on the internet. It is not an understatement to say that the sudden disappearance of the national hero was a real trauma. “It was 30 years ago, but I remember everything, Kasller continues. It was raining that day in the Northeast of Brazil where I am from. I was watching TV with my father. At the time of the accident, I thought he was going to be okay. But when we learned that he had died two hours later, it took me a while to realize. I cried and my father hugged me. My neighbors were there too. We stayed up until the end of the night when the TV programs only talked about him. His death affected us all. It's like we've lost someone close to us. Even after 30 years, the images of his accident and death are still difficult for me to watch.”
To think of Brazil and not remember Ayrton Senna is an insult!
By joining the pilots' paradise, Senna became eternal and continues to be a reference for the Brazilian people whom he cherished so much. “Ayrton represents for all of us the highest existing level of concentration, perseverance, confidence, mastery and perfectionisminsists Evelin L., 26 years old. Even those who didn't follow F1 had him as an idol. It gave Brazil an identity. To think of Brazil and not remember Ayrton Senna is an insult! He inspires me to go beyond my best in all life situations. Because he did exactly that while he was alive.”
And Kasller concludes: “The truth is that Brazil stopped on Sunday morning to watch the GPs. Senna made us proud to be Brazilians while the country was in political and economic chaos. With Pelé, he is a national legend.”
Senna semper!
