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The Death of Ayrton Senna
The Death of Ayrton Senna
224 pages, Paperback
First published April 23, 1995
45 people are currently reading
980 people want to read
About the author
Richard Williams
26 books7 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Richard Williams is the chief sports writer for the Guardian and the bestselling author of The Death of Ayrton Senna and Enzo Ferrari: A Life. He is a lifelong fan of Nottingham Forest.
Richard Williams is the chief sports writer for the Guardian and the bestselling author of The Death of Ayrton Senna and Enzo Ferrari: A Life. He is a lifelong fan of Nottingham Forest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
August 7, 2022
It says something when a book makes you really care and respect a shining star of a sport I’ve never even watched (well, lying here, I suppose I have seen 50% of a Formula One race once). And now I feel a weird sense of loss of someone I haven’t actually known or even seen onscreen. And that says something about how fantastically well this book is done.
Ayrton Senna was an interesting man. A very talented race car driver who commanded respect and admiration - and perhaps a bit of an irritated fear when his opponents would see his distinctive helmet pop up in their rear view mirror as his driving seems to have been quite aggressive and ruthless. A man who was exceptionally driven and was not about to let triumph slip out of his hands. He was a person whose death shook up quite a few people.
Richard Williams, however, does not get swept up in the wave of Senna’s charisma. This book is not hero worshipping. Senna was a complex person, fascinating but certainly imperfect, and although this book focuses more on his career than personal happenings, it makes the complexity of his nature come through.
And another thing that Williams clearly succeeds at is making the book not only great for established fans but very accessible to complete novices, like me (although I admit to asking my buddy reader for a few clarifications - but even without them it would have been easily understandable). He avoids both impersonal dryness and overt gushing - the issues that sometimes plague biographies written by weaker writers. He turns Senna’s life into a fascinating story of both the man and the sport of racing at that time in history, and even helped me see why people find racing fascinating - even if it isn’t biathlon. (Don’t get me started on biathlon now. I need a book about Ole Einar Bjoerndalen pretty much yesterday).
————
When I was little, my uncle had a poster of Victor Tsoi in his place - a Soviet rock star who also died in the prime of his life, in a car collision. It said, “Tsoi didn’t die; he simply left to tour heaven.” It may be a worthy epitaph to Ayrton Senna as well, the man who was amazing at being a bright star on his chosen path in life.
Hmmm, maybe I’ll watch an entire Formula One race at some point. Although it may end up being an archive one, the one with Ayrton Senna still alive and going around the curves and bends of the track at the dizzying speed, being awesome at being the best.
5 stars.
——————
Buddy read with Dennis. Go read his review if you want to see how a real fan feels about Senna.
——————
Also posted on my blog.
“Outside, in the afternoon heat, more banners had been hung on the railings of the perimeter fence: ‘Senna obrigado’, ‘Adeus Senna’, ‘Senna tricampeão’, ‘Senna o melhor’. A few of them bore no name, but simply a single word: saudade. ‘It’s the most beautiful word in the Portuguese language,’ my friend Ana Cecília said as we bought a couple of bottles of mineral water from a vendor by the palace fence. ‘And it’s one of those for which there’s no direct translation. It means the sense of loss and sadness you feel when the person you love isn’t there any more. No other language has this word.”
Ayrton Senna was an interesting man. A very talented race car driver who commanded respect and admiration - and perhaps a bit of an irritated fear when his opponents would see his distinctive helmet pop up in their rear view mirror as his driving seems to have been quite aggressive and ruthless. A man who was exceptionally driven and was not about to let triumph slip out of his hands. He was a person whose death shook up quite a few people.
“When Senna was alive, he was always on the move, always thinking, always changing the equation, always making everybody else question their own positions and readjust to his movements. Only when he died were we able to look objectively at his achievements: to balance the intention, the method and the outcome. And what the read-out said was that he wouldn’t be replaced, because such complexity of character and technical skill rarely coexist within a single human being.”
Richard Williams, however, does not get swept up in the wave of Senna’s charisma. This book is not hero worshipping. Senna was a complex person, fascinating but certainly imperfect, and although this book focuses more on his career than personal happenings, it makes the complexity of his nature come through.
“There was never a more contemplative grand prix driver than Ayrton Senna, nor one more obviously concerned with the philosophical questions raised by his occupation. Once he was in the car, however, he didn’t go in for second thoughts; not about the dimension of his own talent, not about going for a pass at the first and slightest hint of an opportunity. He knew that this willingness to work in the margins was what gave him the advantage over those who were more inclined to pause, even for a microsecond, to check the odds and evaluate the risk.”
And another thing that Williams clearly succeeds at is making the book not only great for established fans but very accessible to complete novices, like me (although I admit to asking my buddy reader for a few clarifications - but even without them it would have been easily understandable). He avoids both impersonal dryness and overt gushing - the issues that sometimes plague biographies written by weaker writers. He turns Senna’s life into a fascinating story of both the man and the sport of racing at that time in history, and even helped me see why people find racing fascinating - even if it isn’t biathlon. (Don’t get me started on biathlon now. I need a book about Ole Einar Bjoerndalen pretty much yesterday).
————
When I was little, my uncle had a poster of Victor Tsoi in his place - a Soviet rock star who also died in the prime of his life, in a car collision. It said, “Tsoi didn’t die; he simply left to tour heaven.” It may be a worthy epitaph to Ayrton Senna as well, the man who was amazing at being a bright star on his chosen path in life.
Hmmm, maybe I’ll watch an entire Formula One race at some point. Although it may end up being an archive one, the one with Ayrton Senna still alive and going around the curves and bends of the track at the dizzying speed, being awesome at being the best.
5 stars.
——————
Buddy read with Dennis. Go read his review if you want to see how a real fan feels about Senna.
——————
Also posted on my blog.
August 12, 2022
When I finished this book it had been 28 years to the day since I saw my childhood hero die.
Viviane Senna da Silva Lalli, speaking at the funeral of her younger brother, was mainly talking about Brazilians. Ayrton Senna was a national hero, the pride of a whole nation. This sounds like a lot for an athlete. But you have to consider that Brazil is a very poor nation plagued by many problems. Senna, a man from a Third World Country who went to Europe and became the best in the world at what he was doing, at times was the only thing to be proud of for many Brazilians. He also gave back a lot, because he loved his home and his people.
In a global sense he divided opinion. Not in terms of his ability as a racing driver, I don't think anyone would doubt that Ayrton Senna was a generational talent at the very least, but in regard to his methods. Senna was a contradictory character. He was charismatic, eloquent, highly intelligent, generous. He was also ruthless and occasionally dishonest. He would read the bible on his way to races, talk about his belief in God in press conferences and then go and drive another car off the track.
Senna was known for his aggressive driving style and going over the limit on occasion. The driver that most reminds me of him today is Max Verstappen. Funnily enough, I often think Verstappen is going too far, while I always unconditionally supported Senna. Such was the pull of his personality. Being a little older and wiser now I can see why not everyone agreed. Senna though was convinced that he was in the right. The thing is, there are always two sides to it when two drivers clash.
Most books I've read about Senna mention the darker side of his character briefly. And then go on telling how extraordinary he was in any other sense. The thing is, he was. As a driver and as a person he was just different - special. But most writers seem to get so absorbed by the fact that their books become hero worshipping. Well, Senna was worshipped a lot, not least by myself, and I enjoyed all the books I read about him. But for years now almost nothing I've read or seen was new to me any longer.
Richard Williams brings a new perspective, much more critical of Senna's missteps while trying to explain (not justify) how it came to them. He also is able to actually span a convincing narrative instead of just giving a year-by-year recount of Senna's considerable achievements in motor racing. His book spends more time on the accident and the funeral than most others I've read thus far. But its title is still a little misleading. It's not only about the death of Ayrton Senna and the impact it had on the sport and on millions of people around the world, including little Dennis, who was crying for months. He gives a good, albeit not comprehensive, overview of his career too.
As an introduction to Senna this is a good book. However, people who start here might later be surprised by how overwhelmingly positive Senna is depicted in the movie which bears his name and in most books that were written about him. And how badly his main rival Prost (another all-time great driver) comes off in most of these. I don't agree with everything Williams says, but I only found one thing that he got objectively wrong (except for a few dates and stuff like that). Sometimes with Formula 1 the truth comes down to what you want to believe.
I believe that Senna was the greatest ever. But you could mention four, maybe five other names to me and I wouldn't call you silly. This is a book for both, those who believe that Senna was the greatest and those who think he was just reckless.
What still fascinates me is his immense will and commitment, his ability to find new limits, to not only what a racing car could do, but his body and mind as well.
"He was an even greater man outside the car than he was in it.”
- Sir Frank Williams
“With Senna the sun has fallen from the sky.”
- Gerhard Berger
„I want to live fully, very intensely. Because I am an intense person. I would never want to live partially, suffering from illness or injury. If I ever happen to have an accident that eventually costs my life, I hope it happens in one instant.“
- Ayrton Senna
He got his wish.
Obrigado, Ayrton. Senna sempre!
********
August 2022 buddy read: A re-read only three months later? Well, I could not let Nataliya read this alone, considering she knew nothing about F1 beforehand. Turns out, though, she didn't need my guidance. And more importantly, she loved the book and is now a little Senna fan. 😁 And what about me? I found it just as addictive as the first time around. Promoting this to my favorites shelf.
My brother had a mission, and our family is in deep emotion today because we didn't realize it had made him so greatly loved. I saw how the ordinary people showed their feelings. Some of them were shoeless; others were dressed in silk. He united them, even through his death.
Viviane Senna da Silva Lalli, speaking at the funeral of her younger brother, was mainly talking about Brazilians. Ayrton Senna was a national hero, the pride of a whole nation. This sounds like a lot for an athlete. But you have to consider that Brazil is a very poor nation plagued by many problems. Senna, a man from a Third World Country who went to Europe and became the best in the world at what he was doing, at times was the only thing to be proud of for many Brazilians. He also gave back a lot, because he loved his home and his people.
In a global sense he divided opinion. Not in terms of his ability as a racing driver, I don't think anyone would doubt that Ayrton Senna was a generational talent at the very least, but in regard to his methods. Senna was a contradictory character. He was charismatic, eloquent, highly intelligent, generous. He was also ruthless and occasionally dishonest. He would read the bible on his way to races, talk about his belief in God in press conferences and then go and drive another car off the track.
Senna was known for his aggressive driving style and going over the limit on occasion. The driver that most reminds me of him today is Max Verstappen. Funnily enough, I often think Verstappen is going too far, while I always unconditionally supported Senna. Such was the pull of his personality. Being a little older and wiser now I can see why not everyone agreed. Senna though was convinced that he was in the right. The thing is, there are always two sides to it when two drivers clash.
Most books I've read about Senna mention the darker side of his character briefly. And then go on telling how extraordinary he was in any other sense. The thing is, he was. As a driver and as a person he was just different - special. But most writers seem to get so absorbed by the fact that their books become hero worshipping. Well, Senna was worshipped a lot, not least by myself, and I enjoyed all the books I read about him. But for years now almost nothing I've read or seen was new to me any longer.
Richard Williams brings a new perspective, much more critical of Senna's missteps while trying to explain (not justify) how it came to them. He also is able to actually span a convincing narrative instead of just giving a year-by-year recount of Senna's considerable achievements in motor racing. His book spends more time on the accident and the funeral than most others I've read thus far. But its title is still a little misleading. It's not only about the death of Ayrton Senna and the impact it had on the sport and on millions of people around the world, including little Dennis, who was crying for months. He gives a good, albeit not comprehensive, overview of his career too.
As an introduction to Senna this is a good book. However, people who start here might later be surprised by how overwhelmingly positive Senna is depicted in the movie which bears his name and in most books that were written about him. And how badly his main rival Prost (another all-time great driver) comes off in most of these. I don't agree with everything Williams says, but I only found one thing that he got objectively wrong (except for a few dates and stuff like that). Sometimes with Formula 1 the truth comes down to what you want to believe.
I believe that Senna was the greatest ever. But you could mention four, maybe five other names to me and I wouldn't call you silly. This is a book for both, those who believe that Senna was the greatest and those who think he was just reckless.
What still fascinates me is his immense will and commitment, his ability to find new limits, to not only what a racing car could do, but his body and mind as well.
"He was an even greater man outside the car than he was in it.”
- Sir Frank Williams
“With Senna the sun has fallen from the sky.”
- Gerhard Berger
„I want to live fully, very intensely. Because I am an intense person. I would never want to live partially, suffering from illness or injury. If I ever happen to have an accident that eventually costs my life, I hope it happens in one instant.“
- Ayrton Senna
He got his wish.
Obrigado, Ayrton. Senna sempre!
********
August 2022 buddy read: A re-read only three months later? Well, I could not let Nataliya read this alone, considering she knew nothing about F1 beforehand. Turns out, though, she didn't need my guidance. And more importantly, she loved the book and is now a little Senna fan. 😁 And what about me? I found it just as addictive as the first time around. Promoting this to my favorites shelf.
May 21, 2022
A fantastic book. In less than 200 beautifully written pages Richard Williams manages to capture the essence not just of Ayrton Senna, but of Formula 1 itself.
May 2, 2024
Since there are some fine reviews for this book, I’ll only make a few observations. The opening is a moving and riveting portrait of how impactful the tragic death of Ayrton Senna truly was; not just to his country, to whom he became a symbol of hope and excellence, but to the entire racing world, who knew that he was the greatest among them, perhaps the greatest of all-time.
You can feel Senna here in these pages, warts and all. The great moments on track are covered, including a near out-of-body experience for the religious Senna, when he went beyond the car's limits and something greater seemed to have taken over. By the end of this book, you feel how great Senna was, and understand why the word Senna, is and always will be followed by a moment of awe and sadness.
A byproduct of the portrait so deftly painted of this fine but flawed man, with talent so great it supersedes generations, is the understanding and insight provided to the reader about the corrupt politics and sometimes lack of integrity in Formula One. If you’re a real fan, you’ll already know, but this may be the finest book available to those who really don’t understand the nuances of this pinnacle of racing. After reading this, you’ll have a rather low opinion of some truly big names in the sport, and suspicions that the word of those over the years running the sport may not be all that trustworthy. Somerset Maugham once remarked that Monaco was a sunny getaway for shady people. It might be fair to say that after reading The Death of Ayrton Senna, many will come away thinking Formula One is a shady place for sunny people. At least some of them are sunny. Senna was like a bright sun whose good qualities combined with his talent to outweigh his flaws, and that definitely comes across in this relatively brief — by today’s bloated standards — look at his life, death, and impact.
When it comes to the crash that took him from us, no other section highlights more the shady nature of Formula One, especially at that time. The reader will come away asking themselves: Who is lying here? Because obviously, as this section highlights, someone is not being completely forthcoming. Senna’s well-founded suspicions that year about a rival team is covered, as is the mystery surrounding his crash, since many believe — and still do — that Senna was so good, that to make an error that basic was not in his racing DNA. That only leaves more questions, questions that will probably never be answered to anyone’s satisfaction.
All we can do is celebrate Senna’s life, and mourn his loss. And this book accomplishes both. I’d recommend this with the highest rating for any fan of the sport — whether a fan of Senna or just the sport in general. But most of all, I’d recommend this book to anyone who wants to grasp the world of Formula One. Both a touching tribute, an honest portrait, and a sometimes unpleasant look at the world’s pinnacle of racing.
Ayrton Senna - (March 21, 1960 - May 1, 1994)
You can feel Senna here in these pages, warts and all. The great moments on track are covered, including a near out-of-body experience for the religious Senna, when he went beyond the car's limits and something greater seemed to have taken over. By the end of this book, you feel how great Senna was, and understand why the word Senna, is and always will be followed by a moment of awe and sadness.
A byproduct of the portrait so deftly painted of this fine but flawed man, with talent so great it supersedes generations, is the understanding and insight provided to the reader about the corrupt politics and sometimes lack of integrity in Formula One. If you’re a real fan, you’ll already know, but this may be the finest book available to those who really don’t understand the nuances of this pinnacle of racing. After reading this, you’ll have a rather low opinion of some truly big names in the sport, and suspicions that the word of those over the years running the sport may not be all that trustworthy. Somerset Maugham once remarked that Monaco was a sunny getaway for shady people. It might be fair to say that after reading The Death of Ayrton Senna, many will come away thinking Formula One is a shady place for sunny people. At least some of them are sunny. Senna was like a bright sun whose good qualities combined with his talent to outweigh his flaws, and that definitely comes across in this relatively brief — by today’s bloated standards — look at his life, death, and impact.
When it comes to the crash that took him from us, no other section highlights more the shady nature of Formula One, especially at that time. The reader will come away asking themselves: Who is lying here? Because obviously, as this section highlights, someone is not being completely forthcoming. Senna’s well-founded suspicions that year about a rival team is covered, as is the mystery surrounding his crash, since many believe — and still do — that Senna was so good, that to make an error that basic was not in his racing DNA. That only leaves more questions, questions that will probably never be answered to anyone’s satisfaction.
All we can do is celebrate Senna’s life, and mourn his loss. And this book accomplishes both. I’d recommend this with the highest rating for any fan of the sport — whether a fan of Senna or just the sport in general. But most of all, I’d recommend this book to anyone who wants to grasp the world of Formula One. Both a touching tribute, an honest portrait, and a sometimes unpleasant look at the world’s pinnacle of racing.
Ayrton Senna - (March 21, 1960 - May 1, 1994)
June 7, 2017
A must read for motorsport lovers.
January 14, 2016
The first chapter is emotionally hard-hitting. What follows is a run through of Senna's career, pausing only on key events and highlighting the controversies and rivalries that he is best remembered for.
The author considers the accident objectively and looks also at how that affected the sport afterwards. Not simply in the big picture sense but looking at specific examples from the remainder of the 1994 season.
While Senna is often referred to in reverential tones (as he perhaps deserves) this is not hero-worshipping. His flaws are admitted with equal candour. I'd recommend this book for anyone new to Ayrton Senna, as an introduction to his legacy and tragedy.
The author considers the accident objectively and looks also at how that affected the sport afterwards. Not simply in the big picture sense but looking at specific examples from the remainder of the 1994 season.
While Senna is often referred to in reverential tones (as he perhaps deserves) this is not hero-worshipping. His flaws are admitted with equal candour. I'd recommend this book for anyone new to Ayrton Senna, as an introduction to his legacy and tragedy.
January 18, 2013
Ignore the sensationalist title, this is the real deal: a proper book about Ayrton Senna, not some grotesque cash-in.
Having read a few of Christoper Hilton's Senna-books, it was refreshing to get a new-ish view on his career. Some of the incidents were covered in pretty much the same way, the same praise was said about Ayrton and so on. The book opens with detailed and touching account of Senna's funeral, and then goes on to cover his racing career from karting to that weekend at Imola. It's definitely not a complete racing record - full seasons in Formula One are covered with one paragraph - but that is not what this book is about. The final few chapters deal with his death and the aftermath of the crash, including the trial(s) held in Italy. Williams does not draw any final conclusions about the crash or the investigation, leaving the reader to make up his mind about what might have caused it.
There were a few sloppy mistakes (1988 Monaco became 1989 Monaco, Senna supposedly won his third title in 1990), but these didn't detract me too much.
With just 180 pages in length, it is at times just touching the surface the subject matter. It could be much more comprehensive, but for what it is now - painting a picture of the man and what his career meant - it succeeds. Definitely recommended for anyone interested in racing, or great sports figures.
Having read a few of Christoper Hilton's Senna-books, it was refreshing to get a new-ish view on his career. Some of the incidents were covered in pretty much the same way, the same praise was said about Ayrton and so on. The book opens with detailed and touching account of Senna's funeral, and then goes on to cover his racing career from karting to that weekend at Imola. It's definitely not a complete racing record - full seasons in Formula One are covered with one paragraph - but that is not what this book is about. The final few chapters deal with his death and the aftermath of the crash, including the trial(s) held in Italy. Williams does not draw any final conclusions about the crash or the investigation, leaving the reader to make up his mind about what might have caused it.
There were a few sloppy mistakes (1988 Monaco became 1989 Monaco, Senna supposedly won his third title in 1990), but these didn't detract me too much.
With just 180 pages in length, it is at times just touching the surface the subject matter. It could be much more comprehensive, but for what it is now - painting a picture of the man and what his career meant - it succeeds. Definitely recommended for anyone interested in racing, or great sports figures.
February 15, 2014
Great book - a short sharp tale of his life.
Not on my to-read list for this year, but a must read for 2014.
Good bit: Mr Williams does not treat the reader as a fool. He is more than a story-teller; he commentates on the events.
Bad bit: My memory of events ...
Not on my to-read list for this year, but a must read for 2014.
Good bit: Mr Williams does not treat the reader as a fool. He is more than a story-teller; he commentates on the events.
Bad bit: My memory of events ...
January 7, 2015
intelligent examination of what makes a legend
Subtle and insightful, this skilfully written book covers the making of Senna's glory years and the aftermath of his fatal crash. It helps the reader to appreciate the human and sublime aspects of genius.
Subtle and insightful, this skilfully written book covers the making of Senna's glory years and the aftermath of his fatal crash. It helps the reader to appreciate the human and sublime aspects of genius.
March 4, 2016
A really great book if you're into the classic formula 1, beautifully written and puts in perspective the life of one of the bests drivers that F1 ever had. Very recomended.
February 14, 2012
This is for the Formula 1 fan of 20 to 25 years back, specially those who admired Senna. It's an engrossing read, which culminates on the accident that took Senna's life but it is not exclusively about it. It wasn't easy for me, who have always been unconditionally a Senna supporter, to read something that acknowledges that he was not only determined, but often overly aggressive and single minded about victory. Still, the book seems to do justice to his talent behind the wheel.
May 1, 2009
The title tells it all. A death that no one thought could happen. He we too good to die in a race car, but shit happens. His death had wide reaching implications. The ultimate racer.
November 3, 2023
kierowca niebywały, szkoda że autor książki średni. strasznie ciężko mi się to czytało.
March 20, 2021
This book is a must read for all formula 1 followers or Motorsports in general. The title is a bit deceiving as the book covers must of Senna’s life, the nature & history Formula 1 racing rather than just his death in Imola and the investigation on the racing incident.
Although personally I haven’t seen Senna race live, you can easily tell he was a perfectionist in what he really enjoyed doing, Racing!. He really believed in him self, having the courage to decline number of offers from Formula 1 teams while racing in the lower tiers early in his career, as he ought to have a competitive machine with the chance to win.
The quote in page 86 about how Senna perceived the way he drove is just incredible, that in the thick of it he was pushing him self to go faster every lap to a point that “ the intellect and the body combined and it becomes hard to say which is pulling the strings”. As in he is no longer in our dimension he is in the mystical dimension traveling in a tunnel and only something has to go wrong in order for him to be back.
As silly as it sounds there are many examples of Senna pushing the machine to its absolute limit when he really didn’t need to do so, as the win or the pole position he is aiming for was already secured in the bag. But, for him that was not enough. Just like the other greats in sports, art or other aspect in life, he kept pushing until the equipment broke ,collided in one of the barriers or simply reached the chequered flag.
Again it may sound incredibly far fetched what he is trying to illustrate, but imagine being too good in what you do that all what surrounds you no longer matters, you are immersed in your greatness. Everyone can be little envies of Senna and other greats, because the majority of us are mediocre in what we do and love.
In every story there must be a hero and a villain. In the story of Ayrton Senna, Alan Prust was the villain or their characters interchanged depends on the way you saw the rivalry and what qualities in a person you appreciate when you make up your judgment. “Occasionally he lied and cheated which made it impossible not to have mixed feeling about him but he was simply Senna”
Although personally I haven’t seen Senna race live, you can easily tell he was a perfectionist in what he really enjoyed doing, Racing!. He really believed in him self, having the courage to decline number of offers from Formula 1 teams while racing in the lower tiers early in his career, as he ought to have a competitive machine with the chance to win.
The quote in page 86 about how Senna perceived the way he drove is just incredible, that in the thick of it he was pushing him self to go faster every lap to a point that “ the intellect and the body combined and it becomes hard to say which is pulling the strings”. As in he is no longer in our dimension he is in the mystical dimension traveling in a tunnel and only something has to go wrong in order for him to be back.
As silly as it sounds there are many examples of Senna pushing the machine to its absolute limit when he really didn’t need to do so, as the win or the pole position he is aiming for was already secured in the bag. But, for him that was not enough. Just like the other greats in sports, art or other aspect in life, he kept pushing until the equipment broke ,collided in one of the barriers or simply reached the chequered flag.
Again it may sound incredibly far fetched what he is trying to illustrate, but imagine being too good in what you do that all what surrounds you no longer matters, you are immersed in your greatness. Everyone can be little envies of Senna and other greats, because the majority of us are mediocre in what we do and love.
In every story there must be a hero and a villain. In the story of Ayrton Senna, Alan Prust was the villain or their characters interchanged depends on the way you saw the rivalry and what qualities in a person you appreciate when you make up your judgment. “Occasionally he lied and cheated which made it impossible not to have mixed feeling about him but he was simply Senna”
January 15, 2012
Not exactly what I expected or what the title would suggest; fully 75% of the book is about the life and racing career of Senna, as opposed to his fatal accident.
I picked this up hoping to gain a better understanding of just what happened at Tamburello 18 years ago. I'm not sure I got what I was looking for, but I did get an engaging read about an amazing driver. I'll take that.
I picked this up hoping to gain a better understanding of just what happened at Tamburello 18 years ago. I'm not sure I got what I was looking for, but I did get an engaging read about an amazing driver. I'll take that.
November 29, 2017
I wasn't a great fan of Senna (shock horror!) of course when he died I felt the sport had lost a vital element. If you enjoy F1, you'll probably like this book. It is a very well written account of his career and F1 overall. I don't know if it would be of interest as a general biography...
I really enjoyed reading it and Richard Williams did a great job of handling this emotive subject.
I really enjoyed reading it and Richard Williams did a great job of handling this emotive subject.
May 5, 2024
(PT) A vida de Ayrton Senna, dos karts até uma tarde de domingo em Imola, mo centro de Itália. E as coisas que aconteceram antes, durante e depois da sua morte.
Inesperadamente, numa quinta-feira à tarde, o livro cai no meu colo. Numa livraria, vejo este exemplar numa prateleira e nem hesito em comprá-la. Até calha bem: aproxima-se o 30º aniversário do seu acidente fatal e é a altura ideal.
Richard Williams escreveu isto em 1995, no rescaldo de uma temporada de pesadelo: mortes, acidentes sérios, alterações de regulamentos em cima do joelho, a Formula 1 colocada em dúvida. Mas o choque maior foi o desaparecimento prematuro do melhor piloto do pelotão, mesmo sabendo que estava a ser contestado por um jovem alemão chamado Michael Schumacher. Os eventos de Imola são frequentemente comparados com os de Hockenheim, a 7 de abril de 1968, quando morreu Jim Clark, numa corrida de Formula 2.
O autor escreveu desde então alguns livros bem interessantes sobre automobilismo, nomeadamente uma biografia de Richard Seaman, o britânico que correu pela Mercedes em 1938, mas vésperas da II Guerra Mundial.
Este livro foi escrito e reescrito ao longo dos anos, porque entretanto, houve um inquérito, e de uma certa forma, o exemplar que tenho nas mãos é da edição de 1999, altura em que sofreu a sua maior alteração.
Li-o em três dias, entre os dias 1 e 3 de maio. Não foi num fôlego, mas com a calma suficiente para poder desfrutá-lo. O assunto é mais que conhecido, li outras biografias, que contam de uma ponta à outra a sua carreira desde os karts até à aquela tarde de domingo de primavera no centro de Itália. E a conclusão que chego é que, se não é o melhor, é uma das melhores biografias sobre ele.
A leitura começa com a descrição do funeral, em São Paulo, para depois falar da sua carreira, e dos seus feitos, e da sua atitude em relação aos seus adversários. Mostra que foi tudo um grande plano para alcançar o topo, onde conseguiu cumprir todos os objetivos: a Formula 1, as vitórias, os títulos, os melhores carros do campeonato.
A parte final tem a ver com o seu acidente e o inquérito italiano sobre as suas causas. O capitulo final é uma sessão do julgamento em Bolonha, com o testemunho de Damon Hill sobre o que aconteceu, e as respostas ambíguas que deu.
A maneira como o autor o apresentou, para além do distanciamento jornalístico que deu, mostra também um sentido de pragmatismo em relação a ele e nas lutas com os seus adversários. E contou uma coisa que não li em muitas biografias sobre ele: foi o primeiro a trazer um estilo a uma Formula 1 em transição. Até ali, o perigo de morte era palpável, mas em meados da década de 80, com os carros e fibra da carbono, e os depósitos de combustível protegidos, os pilotos poderiam puxar os limites mais um bocado. Senna explorou-os, foi o primeiro a fazê-lo. Intimidar os seus adversários pode não ser muito de desportista, mas fê-lo bem. Quer nos "mind games" (quando descobriu a aversão de Prost à chuva, explorou-o até ao tutano), quer na pista, apesar de achar que os eventos de Suzuka, em 1990, foi ir longe demais. Mas não poderia fazer aquilo 15 anos antes, porque saberia que acabaria numa bola de fogo.
O que me fascina neste livro é que, sendo uma biografia, consegue ir além dela, trazendo coisas novas em relação a ele, numa altura em que parece tudo já ter sido dito sobre Senna. Logo, é muito bom. Acredito que lerei mais coisas sobre ele no futuro, mas acho que este já está entre os melhores e merece um lugar de destaque na minha biblioteca. Gostei.
Inesperadamente, numa quinta-feira à tarde, o livro cai no meu colo. Numa livraria, vejo este exemplar numa prateleira e nem hesito em comprá-la. Até calha bem: aproxima-se o 30º aniversário do seu acidente fatal e é a altura ideal.
Richard Williams escreveu isto em 1995, no rescaldo de uma temporada de pesadelo: mortes, acidentes sérios, alterações de regulamentos em cima do joelho, a Formula 1 colocada em dúvida. Mas o choque maior foi o desaparecimento prematuro do melhor piloto do pelotão, mesmo sabendo que estava a ser contestado por um jovem alemão chamado Michael Schumacher. Os eventos de Imola são frequentemente comparados com os de Hockenheim, a 7 de abril de 1968, quando morreu Jim Clark, numa corrida de Formula 2.
O autor escreveu desde então alguns livros bem interessantes sobre automobilismo, nomeadamente uma biografia de Richard Seaman, o britânico que correu pela Mercedes em 1938, mas vésperas da II Guerra Mundial.
Este livro foi escrito e reescrito ao longo dos anos, porque entretanto, houve um inquérito, e de uma certa forma, o exemplar que tenho nas mãos é da edição de 1999, altura em que sofreu a sua maior alteração.
Li-o em três dias, entre os dias 1 e 3 de maio. Não foi num fôlego, mas com a calma suficiente para poder desfrutá-lo. O assunto é mais que conhecido, li outras biografias, que contam de uma ponta à outra a sua carreira desde os karts até à aquela tarde de domingo de primavera no centro de Itália. E a conclusão que chego é que, se não é o melhor, é uma das melhores biografias sobre ele.
A leitura começa com a descrição do funeral, em São Paulo, para depois falar da sua carreira, e dos seus feitos, e da sua atitude em relação aos seus adversários. Mostra que foi tudo um grande plano para alcançar o topo, onde conseguiu cumprir todos os objetivos: a Formula 1, as vitórias, os títulos, os melhores carros do campeonato.
A parte final tem a ver com o seu acidente e o inquérito italiano sobre as suas causas. O capitulo final é uma sessão do julgamento em Bolonha, com o testemunho de Damon Hill sobre o que aconteceu, e as respostas ambíguas que deu.
A maneira como o autor o apresentou, para além do distanciamento jornalístico que deu, mostra também um sentido de pragmatismo em relação a ele e nas lutas com os seus adversários. E contou uma coisa que não li em muitas biografias sobre ele: foi o primeiro a trazer um estilo a uma Formula 1 em transição. Até ali, o perigo de morte era palpável, mas em meados da década de 80, com os carros e fibra da carbono, e os depósitos de combustível protegidos, os pilotos poderiam puxar os limites mais um bocado. Senna explorou-os, foi o primeiro a fazê-lo. Intimidar os seus adversários pode não ser muito de desportista, mas fê-lo bem. Quer nos "mind games" (quando descobriu a aversão de Prost à chuva, explorou-o até ao tutano), quer na pista, apesar de achar que os eventos de Suzuka, em 1990, foi ir longe demais. Mas não poderia fazer aquilo 15 anos antes, porque saberia que acabaria numa bola de fogo.
O que me fascina neste livro é que, sendo uma biografia, consegue ir além dela, trazendo coisas novas em relação a ele, numa altura em que parece tudo já ter sido dito sobre Senna. Logo, é muito bom. Acredito que lerei mais coisas sobre ele no futuro, mas acho que este já está entre os melhores e merece um lugar de destaque na minha biblioteca. Gostei.
February 27, 2024
‘He was our hero,’ said eighteen-year-old Silvia Barros, ‘our only one.’
"Already he was learning that no matter how talented you may be, the limits of your achievement are defined by the quality of your equipment; and the quality of that equipment is determined by your own ability to present yourself in the right place at the right time with the right qualifications and backing, and with the political skills necessary to ensure that you are the one who emerges from a crowded field."
"‘He has completely destroyed everything,’ Prost said at the time of the crash. ‘Everything that has happened here has shown his real face. For him it is much more important to win the championship than it is for me. It is the only thing he has in life. He is completely screwed up. This man has no value.’"
"‘I earned good money,’ he said. ‘I was driving in good teams, I was winning races, I had pole positions … basically, not a lot to prove. So what is the point to take still the risk? That was my question to myself last week. But the other side is, what is the rest of your life?’"
"And Schumacher, too, had done what a racer would. You’re in the lead. Everything is at stake. Give nothing away. Hold the line at all costs, put the car where you want to put it, let the other fellow worry about it. Some words come back: ‘He left you to decide whether or not you wanted to have an accident with him.’
After all, the precedents were highly respectable. You did it, you got out, and you walked away to claim your prize. The other fellow might as well not have been there at all."
"Here was a man born to an easy, privileged existence, who had chosen to make it more difficult in order to find some sort of truth for himself, because that truth could not be attained without the experience of struggle. And if, in the process, he had become the best in the world at what he did, perhaps even the best there has ever been, that had not been enough for him. One world championship or half a dozen: they may have been the target, but they were never the point."
"When Senna was alive, he was always on the move, always thinking, always changing the equation, always making everybody else question their own positions and readjust to his movements. Only when he died were we able to look objectively at his achievements: to balance the intention, the method and the outcome. And what the read-out said was that he wouldn’t be replaced, because such complexity of character and technical skill rarely coexist within a single human being."
"‘Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp,/ Or what’s a heaven for?’"
"Already he was learning that no matter how talented you may be, the limits of your achievement are defined by the quality of your equipment; and the quality of that equipment is determined by your own ability to present yourself in the right place at the right time with the right qualifications and backing, and with the political skills necessary to ensure that you are the one who emerges from a crowded field."
"‘He has completely destroyed everything,’ Prost said at the time of the crash. ‘Everything that has happened here has shown his real face. For him it is much more important to win the championship than it is for me. It is the only thing he has in life. He is completely screwed up. This man has no value.’"
"‘I earned good money,’ he said. ‘I was driving in good teams, I was winning races, I had pole positions … basically, not a lot to prove. So what is the point to take still the risk? That was my question to myself last week. But the other side is, what is the rest of your life?’"
"And Schumacher, too, had done what a racer would. You’re in the lead. Everything is at stake. Give nothing away. Hold the line at all costs, put the car where you want to put it, let the other fellow worry about it. Some words come back: ‘He left you to decide whether or not you wanted to have an accident with him.’
After all, the precedents were highly respectable. You did it, you got out, and you walked away to claim your prize. The other fellow might as well not have been there at all."
"Here was a man born to an easy, privileged existence, who had chosen to make it more difficult in order to find some sort of truth for himself, because that truth could not be attained without the experience of struggle. And if, in the process, he had become the best in the world at what he did, perhaps even the best there has ever been, that had not been enough for him. One world championship or half a dozen: they may have been the target, but they were never the point."
"When Senna was alive, he was always on the move, always thinking, always changing the equation, always making everybody else question their own positions and readjust to his movements. Only when he died were we able to look objectively at his achievements: to balance the intention, the method and the outcome. And what the read-out said was that he wouldn’t be replaced, because such complexity of character and technical skill rarely coexist within a single human being."
"‘Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp,/ Or what’s a heaven for?’"
May 1, 2024
"ayrton senna, perhaps uniquely, combined a smoothness of technique, a calculating brain and an unshakeable belief in his own superiority with a powerful aggression and a need to go as fast as possible all the time."
“and what the read-out said was that he wouldn’t be replaced, because such complexity of character and technical skill rarely coexist within a single human being”
this last quote illustrates and sums up the way it was chosen to portray Senna. it doesn't focus solely on the Senna as a persona- but rather his complex nature as a human being. For instance, it makes it a very rich and alluring biography. it is also a very interesting account of formula 1 history.
it is a a bit eerie finishing reading this on the day that marks 3o years since ayrton passed away. he was, after all, the reason why I became so interested in formula 1 (my father, who is a huge Senna fan and whose favorite driver till this day is Senna played also a huge role in it). I remember watching his documentary when I was 13 and being stunned by that last sequence. It stayed with me forever. When I decided to rewatch the documentary and I saw those iconic laps in Monaco, that was the moment I fell in love with Senna and with motorsport. It was pure magic, I understood right way why there were so many accounts about how there was a mystical side to him. I cannot even express how much he means to me. he has truly left a mark on people to the point of transcending the sport. Senna sempre e saudades sempre também. 💌🤍
p.s. english is not my first language and this a rather messy review without formal structure. I just wanted to register my love and appreciation for ayrton.
“and what the read-out said was that he wouldn’t be replaced, because such complexity of character and technical skill rarely coexist within a single human being”
this last quote illustrates and sums up the way it was chosen to portray Senna. it doesn't focus solely on the Senna as a persona- but rather his complex nature as a human being. For instance, it makes it a very rich and alluring biography. it is also a very interesting account of formula 1 history.
it is a a bit eerie finishing reading this on the day that marks 3o years since ayrton passed away. he was, after all, the reason why I became so interested in formula 1 (my father, who is a huge Senna fan and whose favorite driver till this day is Senna played also a huge role in it). I remember watching his documentary when I was 13 and being stunned by that last sequence. It stayed with me forever. When I decided to rewatch the documentary and I saw those iconic laps in Monaco, that was the moment I fell in love with Senna and with motorsport. It was pure magic, I understood right way why there were so many accounts about how there was a mystical side to him. I cannot even express how much he means to me. he has truly left a mark on people to the point of transcending the sport. Senna sempre e saudades sempre também. 💌🤍
p.s. english is not my first language and this a rather messy review without formal structure. I just wanted to register my love and appreciation for ayrton.
June 11, 2025
"obrigado Ayrton"
Of course this was an interesting book about a legend. Ayrton Senna. But I honestly expected it would only be about his death. Instead it was a lot more about his whole career. (Still interesting, but hard to understand if you didn't watched formula one in the 90s by yourself). Also want to say it wasn't an easy understandable english for someone who has english only as second language. In summary it was a great book, but I personally just enjoyed reading the beginning and the end (what kind of person he was for the Brazilians + how he had the accident and the effects on the business).
Would still recommend the book to all f1 fans, since the art of writing was just not my type, but others could definitely like it!
Of course this was an interesting book about a legend. Ayrton Senna. But I honestly expected it would only be about his death. Instead it was a lot more about his whole career. (Still interesting, but hard to understand if you didn't watched formula one in the 90s by yourself). Also want to say it wasn't an easy understandable english for someone who has english only as second language. In summary it was a great book, but I personally just enjoyed reading the beginning and the end (what kind of person he was for the Brazilians + how he had the accident and the effects on the business).
Would still recommend the book to all f1 fans, since the art of writing was just not my type, but others could definitely like it!
Read
March 16, 2024cannot make up my mind about the craft of this book. it’s a few appropriately concise and exquisitely moving pages about the death and memorial in question and then many pages about a racing career which are carried by the force of the subject’s personality. i imagine its unobtrusiveness is a kind of skillful manoeuvre in itself but at times it feels like [senna anecdote] “wasn’t he such a guy…such a guy indeed.” ah but perhaps this is the nature of retrospective and especially posthumous sports journalism…great man theory prevails here still…
July 25, 2023
reread po raz x
May 6, 2024
Gdybym miała taką możliwość, to dałabym tej książce więcej gwiazdek 🥺
January 29, 2025
took me 8 months. insane levels of senna glazing
February 20, 2022
Must read for motorsport lovers. It’ll make you wonder how just through a motorsport, a man can influence an entire nation.
March 31, 2024
Zwięźle i na temat, nieważne ile razy odświeżę sobie temat, za każdym razem smuci tak samo i skłania do refleksji nad całym sensem f1
May 22, 2025
Senna sa už raz v mojej knižnici mihol ako monopost na rovinke – rýchlo, intenzívne, ale s pocitom, že toho bolo stále málo. Prvá kniha ma zasvätila do jeho sveta, no niečo mi hovorilo, že príbeh tohto fenoménu má ešte viac vrstiev, ktoré som neobjavila. Niečo vo mne ma nútilo vrátiť sa späť na štartovaciu čiaru, nasadiť si pomyselnú prilbu a znova sa s ním vydať na cestu – tentoraz s iným sprievodcom, iným uhlom pohľadu.
Vedela som, čo ma čaká. Tragédia, ktorá sa vryla do pamäte celého motoristického sveta, rivalita s Prostom, brazílske korene a zbožšťovanie v rodnej krajine. A predsa ma táto biografia zasiahla silnejšie, než som čakala.
Kniha začína netradične – pohrebom. Už na prvých stránkach je cítiť smútok a váhu tragédie májového víkendu na Imole, ktorý navždy zmenil svet F1. No zároveň sa veľmi prirodzene vraciame na začiatok – do Brazílie, k malému chlapcovi, ktorý skôr jazdil, než chodil, a ktorý svoj sen o rýchlosti žil doslova od kolísky.
Sledujeme Ayrtona cez motokáry, nižšie kategórie až po kráľovnú motoršportu, kde sa z neho stal fenomén. Kniha neobchádza rivalitu s Alainom Prostom, komplikované preteky plné kontroverzných momentov, ale ani jeho duchovnú stránku a nečakanú vnútornú pokoru. Práve tieto pasáže mi umožnili nazrieť nielen za volant, ale aj za prilbu. Vnímať ho nielen ako jazdca, ale aj ako človeka – niekedy tvrdohlavého a dravého, inokedy nesmierne sústredeného, tichého a až prekvapivo pokorného.
Niektoré časti mohli byť podľa mňa ešte hlbšie – ocenila by som viac priestoru venovaného jeho súkromiu, vzťahom či vnútornému svetu mimo tratí. Autor miestami viac upieral svoju pozornosť na jeho súperov než na neho samotného. Ale i tak som medzi riadkami objavovala človeka, ktorého osud mi zovrel hrdlo a ktorého odkaz zostáva v motoršporte nesmierne živý.
Ayrton bol génius za volantom. Jeho technická zručnosť, schopnosť prepojiť sa s autom, jazdiť ako by bol súčasťou monopostu – to sú momenty, ktoré dnes v čoraz viac digitalizovanom svete F1 už nevidíme často. Jeho smrť nebola len tragédiou, bola budíčkom. Pre fanúšikov, pre jazdcov, pre celý šport.
Kniha mi ponúkla viac než len nový pohľad na známe meno. Ponúkla mi zrkadlo človeka, ktorý žil tak rýchlo, až nás všetkých predbehol. Príčina jeho smrti pravdepodobne zostane navždy záhadou, rovnako ako to býva pri legend��ch. A trojnásobný majster sveta z Brazílie bude určite navždy jednou z najväčších postáv v histórii Formuly 1.
Vedela som, čo ma čaká. Tragédia, ktorá sa vryla do pamäte celého motoristického sveta, rivalita s Prostom, brazílske korene a zbožšťovanie v rodnej krajine. A predsa ma táto biografia zasiahla silnejšie, než som čakala.
Kniha začína netradične – pohrebom. Už na prvých stránkach je cítiť smútok a váhu tragédie májového víkendu na Imole, ktorý navždy zmenil svet F1. No zároveň sa veľmi prirodzene vraciame na začiatok – do Brazílie, k malému chlapcovi, ktorý skôr jazdil, než chodil, a ktorý svoj sen o rýchlosti žil doslova od kolísky.
Sledujeme Ayrtona cez motokáry, nižšie kategórie až po kráľovnú motoršportu, kde sa z neho stal fenomén. Kniha neobchádza rivalitu s Alainom Prostom, komplikované preteky plné kontroverzných momentov, ale ani jeho duchovnú stránku a nečakanú vnútornú pokoru. Práve tieto pasáže mi umožnili nazrieť nielen za volant, ale aj za prilbu. Vnímať ho nielen ako jazdca, ale aj ako človeka – niekedy tvrdohlavého a dravého, inokedy nesmierne sústredeného, tichého a až prekvapivo pokorného.
Niektoré časti mohli byť podľa mňa ešte hlbšie – ocenila by som viac priestoru venovaného jeho súkromiu, vzťahom či vnútornému svetu mimo tratí. Autor miestami viac upieral svoju pozornosť na jeho súperov než na neho samotného. Ale i tak som medzi riadkami objavovala človeka, ktorého osud mi zovrel hrdlo a ktorého odkaz zostáva v motoršporte nesmierne živý.
Ayrton bol génius za volantom. Jeho technická zručnosť, schopnosť prepojiť sa s autom, jazdiť ako by bol súčasťou monopostu – to sú momenty, ktoré dnes v čoraz viac digitalizovanom svete F1 už nevidíme často. Jeho smrť nebola len tragédiou, bola budíčkom. Pre fanúšikov, pre jazdcov, pre celý šport.
Kniha mi ponúkla viac než len nový pohľad na známe meno. Ponúkla mi zrkadlo človeka, ktorý žil tak rýchlo, až nás všetkých predbehol. Príčina jeho smrti pravdepodobne zostane navždy záhadou, rovnako ako to býva pri legend��ch. A trojnásobný majster sveta z Brazílie bude určite navždy jednou z najväčších postáv v histórii Formuly 1.
April 12, 2018
Useful research for my upcoming book www.1994f1.com
This book only touches on the Benetton cheating allegations, and because Senna was convinced Schumacher had illegal traction control when he died, this book supports that view. This book is heavily biased because there is no recognition of the opposing viewpoint and it mainly bases its arguments on unsupported speculation.
This was originally released in 1995, with updates since, so it misses out on key arguments and facts which have come to light since. Nor does Williams’ book expand on the political, rules background, or indeed provide any insight from any Benetton personnel. This really is a book for Senna fans who form their opinions based on emotions rather than facts. My upcoming book www.1994f1.com will compare this side of the argument against Benetton's to see how both stack up.
In my book the vast majority of arguments are back up by sources, and some of Williams’ speculation is examined in detail.
This book only touches on the Benetton cheating allegations, and because Senna was convinced Schumacher had illegal traction control when he died, this book supports that view. This book is heavily biased because there is no recognition of the opposing viewpoint and it mainly bases its arguments on unsupported speculation.
This was originally released in 1995, with updates since, so it misses out on key arguments and facts which have come to light since. Nor does Williams’ book expand on the political, rules background, or indeed provide any insight from any Benetton personnel. This really is a book for Senna fans who form their opinions based on emotions rather than facts. My upcoming book www.1994f1.com will compare this side of the argument against Benetton's to see how both stack up.
In my book the vast majority of arguments are back up by sources, and some of Williams’ speculation is examined in detail.
June 14, 2019
This is a beautifully written book, which I think even a non-motor acing fan would appreciate and enjoy. I was never a Senna fan growing up, though I recognised his genius and this books strength - alongside the quality of the writing is that it doesn't hold back on Senna's (many) flaws.
He was certainly one of the most complex and interesting celebrities of the late 20th Century and definitely one of the most intelligent. This is a relatively short book but it certainly covers all this and gives a very detailed rounded picture of the man as well as the racer.
I was surprised by how sad I became when I came to the end and the tragedy (and it was a tragedy) of his accident (you don't want my theories on it here) This would be a perfect book for anyone fan or not who wanted to know more about one of the most famous and interesting people in sport in general.
He was certainly one of the most complex and interesting celebrities of the late 20th Century and definitely one of the most intelligent. This is a relatively short book but it certainly covers all this and gives a very detailed rounded picture of the man as well as the racer.
I was surprised by how sad I became when I came to the end and the tragedy (and it was a tragedy) of his accident (you don't want my theories on it here) This would be a perfect book for anyone fan or not who wanted to know more about one of the most famous and interesting people in sport in general.
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