Attention: from now on, you will read information that describes some moments from the series.
Episode 2 begins with Ayrton Senna’s intense rivalry during the 1983 British F3 season, a battle that went down to the wire against English driver Martin Brundle. Having secured titles in his first two years in Europe, the Brazilian was now pursuing the ultimate championship to secure his entry into Formula 1. At the time, the British F3 champion earned an F1 test drive, significantly increasing their chances of securing a seat in the world’s premier motorsport category.
Episode 2 – Determination
During the F3 season, despite building a strong lead with nine consecutive wins, Senna’s car lost performance in the second half of the championship. This led to a fierce battle with Brundle, who, unsurprisingly, enjoyed widespread support from the British media and fans. Nevertheless, Senna prevailed!
One of the most intriguing stories from the title fight was Senna’s victory achieved by taping the radiator of his car mid-race—a feat the team doubted was possible while the vehicle was in motion.
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Another fascinating point highlighted in Episode 2 is how Senna had already caught the attention of top F1 teams while still competing in F3. One notable admirer was Peter Warr, the Lotus team principal, who would later lead the team where Senna raced from 1985 to 1987. However, Warr faced challenges in securing a spot for Senna due to the team’s preference for a British driver—a sentiment that ultimately prevailed. Meanwhile, McLaren and Williams also expressed interest in Senna, even offering him test opportunities.
A curious detail from Senna’s early career was his decision to sign his name as just “Senna” instead of “da Silva.” This change gave rise to the famous story of Silverstone circuit being humorously nicknamed “Silvastone” due to the sheer number of victories he achieved there during his Formula Ford days.
Despite breaking track records during tests with top F1 teams like Williams in 1983, Senna couldn’t secure a seat with a leading team at that point. Instead, his first F1 opportunity came with Toleman, a modest but growing team.
O início na Fórmula 1 com a Toleman
It was with Toleman that Senna delivered their best-ever result – a second place at the Monaco Grand Prix in his fifth F1 race. The episode’s depiction of this iconic rain-soaked race in Monaco is particularly moving.
The series also portrays a scene set at the Monte Carlo Casino, which, while fictionalized, reflects real events from that weekend. Senna indeed visited the casino for the first time, betting on and winning at roulette with his car’s number, 19, as recounted by Reginaldo Leme.
Senna’s interactions with fellow drivers in 1984 are also shown, emphasizing how, at the time, he was still relatively unknown to the broader public. His remarkable performance in the rain in Monaco, securing an unlikely second place with a team that had never reached a podium before, changed that perception forever. Flashbacks to his relentless karting practice sessions in the rain highlight how those formative experiences were key to earning him the title of “Rain Master.” Senna’s family recalls how he would train in São Paulo whenever it rained, sharpening the skills that later became legendary.
One pivotal moment in Monaco was Senna closing the gap to Alain Prost by more than three seconds per lap. Many believe he was on track for an imminent victory, but the race director, citing dangerous conditions, ended the race early under pressure. Senna crossed the line ahead of Prost, but the rules dictated that results revert to the previous lap in such cases, leaving the Brazilian in second place.
Although victory eluded him that day, it wasn’t far off. Episode 2 concludes with Senna’s joy upon learning he had secured a seat with Lotus, his first top-tier team in F1, giving him the machinery needed to fight for pole positions, podiums, and victories in every race.
Article originally produced for the website Senna.com by Rodrigo França.