The 30th anniversary of Formula One icon Ayrton Senna’s death is being marked with a monument in Imola, while fans have gathered at the track where he crashed in 1994 to pay tribute.
Senna was the sport’s brightest star, a hero to millions, especially in his native Brazil, but on lap seven of the ill-fated San Marino Grand Prix – a weekend that had already claimed the life of Austrian Roland Ratzenberger – he left the road at 190 mph and hit a concrete wall. He died instantly, at 34 years old.
Wednesday marks three decades since Senna’s death and fans have observed the occasion by paying their respects.
In addition, the general director of F1, Stefano Domenicali, was accompanied by politicians from Brazil, Italy and Austria, in memory of Ratzenberger, who died during a qualifying session.
Flags, T-shirts and posters bearing the face of the Sao Paulo-born pilot adorned the gates of Imola on Wednesday, as many surrounded the monument in his honor and laid wreaths, lit candles and took a moment to reflect.
Tributes to Ayrton Senna adorned the gates of the Imola circuit on the 30th anniversary of his death.
Fans visited the monument dedicated to the driver during an event to commemorate him
A replica of Senna’s iconic helmet was placed at the monument dedicated to him by a fan
Senna won his three World Championships with McLaren in 1988, 1990 and 1991. In 1994 he joined Williams following the retirement of Alain Prost.
Senna had wanted this move for a long time, but was unhappy with his car’s performance after a series of rule changes and even predicted that a possibly fatal accident could occur.
On the eve of the 1994 season, he said: ‘The cars are very fast and difficult to drive. “It’s going to be a season with many accidents and I risk saying that we will be lucky if something really serious doesn’t happen.”
And the terrible prophecy was fulfilled at Imola. While leading the race, Senna lost control of his Williams at the famous Tamburello corner. The right front suspension of the three-time world champion’s car went through his helmet.
However, the race resumed less than 40 minutes later with Michael Schumacher winning. Damon Hill, in the other Williams, crossed the line in sixth place, two places ahead of Martin Brundle.
During qualifying on Saturday, Ratzenberger died when his car crashed into a concrete wall after the front wing of his Simtek-Ford broke.
Senna adjusts his rearview mirror in the pits before the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix
Fans from around the world gathered to pay tribute to the late driver, including a group of Ferrari fans.
Several took to the track where Senna lost his life just 24 hours after the death of his fellow driver Roland Ratzenberger.
Dozens of people came to commemorate the date at the Autódromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali (centre) was accompanied by politicians from Italy, Austria and Brazil.
Senna’s death triggered a wave of safety improvements at the Imola track and across F1, resulting in shorter straights, extra clearance in dangerous corners and less powerful engines.
Former F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone revealed this week that he was told the sport would be canceled following the death of the Brazilian driver.
“It was just a disastrous weekend.” She told PA. “If you think about all the things that happened, with Roland crashing and never getting out of his car, and then Senna, I really don’t think it’s possible for it to happen again.
‘Max (Mosley, FIA president at the time) told me afterwards that he thought it would be the end of Formula One. I said: “I think you’re wrong and we’ll have to see.”
“We were hoping it wouldn’t cause what Max had suggested, but it was just a disaster. It wasn’t a good weekend and it feels like a lot more than 30 years to me. He was very unlucky to die in that accident.
The foreign ministers of Brazil, Austria and Italy pose with Domenicalli in front of a banner with flowers at the exact site of the accident that killed Senna.
Tributes were also paid to the Austrian Ratzenberger, who died one day before Senna in 1994.
Among those attending the ceremony were Ratzenberger’s mother, Margit Ratzenberger, and his father, Rudolf Ratzenberger.
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani (pictured) spoke during Wednesday’s ceremony.
Senna remains the last driver to die during an F1 race. Jules Bianchi died nine months after injuries he suffered at the Japanese Grand Prix a decade ago.
“Formula One became more popular after Senna’s death,” Ecclestone added. ‘It received so much global publicity that people who had not seen Formula One before became interested.
“But I hope we never see anything like that again, and I think today, with the way everything has improved security-wise, thank God, the chances are much smaller.”