Fernando and Kimi at Imola for Senna and Ratzenberger
Posted: 01.05.2014
Source: Ferrari
Imola 1st May – Emotion and passion today at Imola’s Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit during the event organised to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger. Paying tribute on behalf of Scuderia Ferrari to the two drivers who died back in 1994 were Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, Jules Bianchi and Pedro de la Rosa. With them was the Director of Racing Activities Antonello Coletta and the Sporting Director, Massimo Rivola. From the pit straight, the drivers walked down to Tamburello corner, where in beautiful sunshine, there was a short commemoration service in honour of Ayrton Senna who died at this spot. There were brief speeches, bringing to life the memories and recollections of those who had known the great driver from Sao Paulo. At 14h17, the exact time that the driver crashed at the wheel of a Williams on lap 7 of the San Marino Grand Prix, a minute’s silence was observed.
Even though they never raced in the Senna era, both Fernando and Kimi had words to say about the Brazilian champion. Particularly touching was Alonso’s recollection. “I can well remember the photos in the papers and seeing on the TV news the stories of the duels between the McLarens of Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna. He had the number 1 on his car and I raced karts thinking about him, of his yellow helmet that was always winning,” said the Spaniard. “I also competed in karting in Italy, working with someone who had been his mechanic when he raced in that category and so you can imagine how important that was for me. I had a poster of him up in my bedroom. The only positive thing to come out of the weekend that took Ayrton and Roland Ratzenberger away from us was that, from then on, safety in Formula 1 improved significantly. In fact, we can say that inside our cars there is something of the legacy of Senna and Raztzenberger, because after that terrible 1994, nothing was ever the same again.”
As for Raikkonen, he had this to say about Ayrton: I was very young. I saw the accident on TV and what I remember most is that, the next day at school we talked about it. Senna was very important for Formula 1, as a driver and a person and his death led to a rapid acceleration in the process of increasing the level of safety in our sport. That has avoided other tragedies from occurring. Unfortunately however, one cannot change the past, neither for Ayrton nor for Roland Ratzenberger. The only thing we can do is remember this champion, whose exploits defined the history of Formula 1 for a long time.”
Montezemolo: “Senna would have ended his career at Ferrari”
Posted: 30.04.2014
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 30 April – Twenty years on from the death of Ayrton Senna, Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo reflects on his memories of the Brazilian driver. “I always appreciated Ayrton’s style of racing. As with all great champions, he had an incredible will to win and never tired of seeking perfection, trying to improve all the time. He was extraordinary in qualifying, but also a great battler in the races, when he always fought tooth and nail”.
He wanted to come to Ferrari and I wanted him in the team. When he was in Italy for the San Marino Grand Prix, we met at my home in Bologna on Wednesday 27 April. He told me he really appreciated the stand we had taken against the excessive use of electronic aids for driving, which didn’t allow a driver’s skill to shine through. We spoke for a long time and he made it clear to me that he wanted to end his career at Ferrari, having come close to joining us a few years earlier. We agreed to meet again soon, so as to look at how we could overcome his contractual obligations at the time. We were both in agreement that Ferrari would be the ideal place for him to further his career, which to date had been brilliant, even unique. Unfortunately, fate robbed all of us of Ayrton and Roland Ratzenberger over one of the saddest weekends in Formula 1 history. Of Senna, I remember his kindness and his simple almost shy nature, which was in complete contrast to Senna the driver, a fighter always aiming for the best.”
In memory of Senna
Posted: 28.04.2014
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 28 April – In two days time, the Ayrton Senna Tribute 1994/2014 event gets underway at Imola’s Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit from 1st to 4th May. It’s a tribute in memory of the Brazilian champion, who died tragically in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. On the twentieth anniversary of his death and that of the Austrian Roland Ratzenberger, who also died during qualifying for this Grand Prix, the Imola circuit is opening its doors to the public for four days of motor sport memories. Among the guests who will attend the commemorative ceremony on Thursday at 13h30 will be Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen. Although they were both very young at the time, they were already keen enough about motor racing to be affected by Senna’s achievements.
“I think Senna set the standard for all drivers and he was definitely the best of his generation,” reckons Fernando on the eve of this sad anniversary. “What made him special was his great will to win and the numbers speak for themselves. He always fought right to the bitter end and that earned him the respect of all his colleagues and it’s what makes him a legend today. I was very little at the time and Spanish TV did not show Formula 1, but I began to know something about him as my father was a fan and my first kart was painted in the same colours as his car.” Although it was a long time ago, Kimi’s recollections are still vivid. “Senna’s death was an incredibly sad moment for the world of Formula 1,” says the Finn. “I was still at school back then and even if I don’t remember much about him, because I was too young, that day has stayed fixed in my memory. I think he was a great driver and a benchmark for many who came after him.”