The real-life story of Ayrton Senna, a Formula 1 legend who died in a racing accident 30 years ago, is documented in the upcoming Netflix series "Senna," which promises a look at his personal relationships, off-track personality and the Grand Prix race that claimed his life.
Ayrton Senna of Brazil on July 7, 1992.
Actor Gabriel Leone stars as the Brazilian driver who claimed three world championships on his way to becoming an F1 icon now widely considered to be the fastest driver of all time.
The six-part drama will debut Nov. 29 and stars Pâmela Tomé as Senna’s TV star girlfriend, Xuxa, Matt Mella as French driver Alain Prost and Patrick Kennedy as McLaren team principal Ron Dennis.
Senna made his Formula 1 debut at the Brazilian Grand Prix with Toleman in 1984 and went on to race for Lotus and McLaren over his decade-long career before he died during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix in Italy following a 191-mph crash into a concrete retaining wall.
A number of changes to Formula 1 followed Senna's death, including limitations placed on bodywork aerodynamics of cars and a pit lane speed limit, and his was the last death due to a World Championship Grands Prix until Jules Bianchi died in 2015 from injuries he'd sustained in the Japanese Grand Prix nine months earlier.
In addition to his decade of wins, Senna was famous for his fierce rivalry with fellow McLaren driver Prost, which was highlighted in the 2010 film "Senna."
His career not only made him a legend among racing fans, but a national hero in Brazil—the country declared three days of national mourning and more than 1 million people are estimated to have lined the streets when his body was returned from Italy.
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Matt Mella as Alain Prost, Gabriel Leone as Ayrton Senna in "Senna."
3 million. That's how many people are thought to have attended Senna's state funeral in 1994.
Senna wasn’t the only racer to die at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Austrian rookie Roland Ratzenberger was killed during Saturday qualifying, the day before Senna's death. It was later reported that an Austrian flag was discovered inside Senna's car after the crash, which he planned to hoist in honor of Ratzenberger after the race. Max Mosley, then-president of the motor sport governing body FIA, reportedly attended Ratzenberger's funeral instead of Senna's because "everyone went to" his.
Senna was born in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1960 and, in the trailer for "Senna," is quoted as saying, "Even before I got into a car, I already knew I was born to race." He said he drove his first go-kart when he was 4 years old after his father built him one by hand using a lawnmower. He began racing go-karts at the age of 13 and came in second place twice at the Karting World Championship before moving on to Formula Ford, an entry-level class of formula racing. Away from the track, Senna is remembered as a talented, if arrogant, man with the ability to "hypnotize a room." McLaren, the last team he ever raced for, recalled him as "smiley and charming" with fans and a true family man who was buoyed when his brother, sister or parents would attend a race. "Ayrton was at his happiest when winning," says an article on the McLaren website.
Netflix has carved out a space in the world of racing via its ultra popular docuseries “Formula 1: Drive to Survive.” The show is credited with helping to increase the global popularity of Formula 1 and its sixth season drew 2.9 millions views over its first week in February. A seventh season was announced earlier this year.