The film focuses on Senna’s Formula One career, from his debut in the 1984 Brazilian Grand Prix to his death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, with emphasis on his rivalry with Alain Prost. It eschews traditional documentary conventions, relying on archival racetrack and broadcast news footage, voiceover narration, and home video clips from the Senna family, rather than formal commentary or interviews.
Senna began his Formula One career in 1984. After initial success at Toleman and Lotus, the narrative centers on his rise to World Champion at McLaren. There, Senna competed with teammate Alain Prost and contended with Formula One’s governing body, led by Jean-Marie Balestre. Kapadia was able to “fashion Senna's story as a live action drama rather than a posthumous documentary.”
Senna won three Formula One titles in four years. The rivalry with Prost reached its peak in the 1989 and 1990 seasons, with Senna believing Balestre’s rulings cost him the 1989 championship and jeopardized his 1990 title. Controversial collisions between Senna and Prost decided both title races. In 1991, Senna overcame a gearbox failure to win his home Brazilian Grand Prix. As a cultural icon in Brazil, Senna used his influence to advocate for driver safety and support underprivileged children.
During the 1992 season, Williams developed technologically advanced racing equipment, shifting the focus of Formula One from driver skill to car performance. Senna faced two years of less competitive machinery, witnessing Nigel Mansell win the 1992 title and Alain Prost win in 1993. Despite attempting to join Prost at Williams in 1993, Prost vetoed the move, remaining resentful of their time together at McLaren.
Prost retired after 1993, and Senna joined Williams for the 1994 season. That year, Formula One implemented rule changes to curtail Williams’ dominance. Without electronic driver aids, Williams struggled to adapt, while Michael Schumacher and Benetton won the first two races. Senna suspected Benetton of illegally using electronic driver aids, but could not prove it.
The 1994 San Marino Grand Prix proved to be Senna’s final race weekend. A series of crashes—Rubens Barrichello’s injury on Friday, Roland Ratzenberger’s death on Saturday, and a collision between JJ Lehto and Pedro Lamy on Sunday—created a tense atmosphere. During the race, Senna crashed fatally due to a mechanical failure. The film concludes with Senna’s funeral and the mourning of his family and peers.
An epilogue reveals that no drivers have died in Formula One since Senna’s death. Senna’s family also established the Instituto Ayrton Senna to continue his charitable work. An extended edition, released in Italy, includes interviews with figures like Alain Prost, Richard Williams, and John Bisignano, and presents “a much more nuanced picture of the Frenchman.”
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