| Widely regarded by many as the greatest driver
to grace the Formula One grid, Brazilian superstar Ayrton Senna
had an all too short-lived association with Williams-Renault, completing
only two Grands Prix with the team before his fatal crash during
the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
Senna began his association with Renault in 1985 when he signed
for the Lotus team, driving the black and gold Lotus-Renault to
victory in pouring rain in the 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril.
A second race win followed at Spa-Francorchamps later that season.
Sir Frank Williams, who had given Senna his first F1 test drive
at Donington Park in 1983, achieved his aim of signing the Brazilian
star in 1994, giving fans of F1 the mouth-watering prospect of seeing
the superb Williams-Renault in the hands of one of the most naturally
gifted drivers in the history of Grand Prix racing.
Senna’s time with Williams-Renault got off to a difficult
start for although he qualified on pole position for the first two
race he retired from both. No-one, however, could have predicted
the events of round three at Imola and the San Marino Grand Prix
– while leading on lap seven Senna crashed and was killed
instantly, changing the world of Formula One forever.
World Championship: Three
with McLaren – 1988, 1990, 1991
F1 Victories:
None with Renault but took six Grand Prix wins with Lotus-Renault
and 35 Grand Prix victories with McLaren.
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