Gerhard Berger & Ayrton Senna

Gerhard Berger is an Austrian former Formula One driver. He competed in F1 for 14 seasons, twice finishing 3rd overall in the championship, both times driving for Ferrari. He won 10 Grand Prix, achieved 48 podiums, 12 poles and 21 fastest laps.

Picture above: From 1990 to 1992, Berger joined Ayrton Senna at McLaren. He took three wins in these 3 seasons, which was pale compared to his team mate’s achievements. But the two enjoyed a good collaboration and became friends.

“We had a really good relationship because, I mean first, we were the same age,” Berger explained. “We knew each other from Formula 3. We spent time together. We went on holiday together and on my boat. We spent time in his place in Brazil together. We played around. We went out. We had a really good time. And you know, when I was racing against him…  when I came into the team with him, until this stage all my team-mates had been very good, but no problem to beat them.”

“I came into his team with the same way of thinking. I said, ‘Okay, I know he’s very good. But I’m going to beat him.’ But I realised then how outstanding he was. But I was not that kind of jealous guy or I wasn’t that kind of mean person, and I didn’t say: ‘Well, how can I weaken him in this way or his image or whatever.’ I just said, ‘Whatever. It’s up to me to get better, to improve myself to beat him.’ And I think he understood immediately that we would be playing a fair game when we’re competing with each other. And so we had room for friendship. And, I mean a great, great friendship over the years.”