A stunning performance

Today, 1st of May, I’d like to post a picture of Ayrton Senna the way we love to remember him, celebrating victory on the podium.

End of 1988, coming to Suzuka, the math was simple : If Ayrton won, he would be champion and Prost second. The Brazilian took a convincing pole, but when the green light went on, his car didn’t move, and the driver had to raise his arms to signal his problem. Luckily all 20 cars passed him without hitting him.

Since the straight was in a slight downward slope, he managed to get his McLaren started and began a storming  race. Senna was so determined to recover the lost time, that he passed six cars on the first lap, and soon was in sixth position while Prost was leading.

The McLaren drivers were in a race of their own, Senna chasing Prost. On lap 28 of 51 laps, Senna on the heels of Prost prepared his attack and duly passed his French rival. Alain Prost tried hard, but couldn’t match his pace and Senna disappeared in the distance. This fantastic performance earned him his first world title.

After the race he said : “I told myself that it was all over, but began to find my rhythm again and race faster and faster”

On the podium (picture above), the two rivals were joined by Ayrton’s good friend Thierry Boutsen, who brought his Benetton home in 3rd place.