The dramas of the 1994 season begin even before the first Grand Prix of the year, as shown in the final episode – Episode 6 – of the series Senna, titled “Time.” The new regulations removed all electronic aids from the cars, stripping away the technical advantage that Williams had relied on for the previous three years.
Attention: from now on, you will read information that describes some moments from the series.
Episode 6 – Time
There was great excitement around Senna joining Williams, but the early tests revealed the team’s struggles—followed soon after by suspicions that Michael Schumacher’s Benetton was using illegal electronic devices, making the competition even more unfair.
The San Marino GP at Imola began with a serious crash involving Rubens Barrichello during Friday’s practice session. Senna visited the young Brazilian driver in the medical center and was the one to deliver the news that Rubens was okay. In the episode, Barrichello calls Ayrton “Boss,” a term of respect, and this relationship—as well as other moments shared by the two—was highlighted by Rubinho in a conversation with the official Senna website:
The increasingly frequent accidents in Formula 1 during 1994 emphasized the urgent need for a Driver’s Association to have a stronger voice and presence in the sport’s decision-making. This issue was brought to Senna by two three-time world champions, Niki Lauda and Jackie Stewart, as portrayed in Episode 6.
Senna’s concern for safety is also highlighted in the series through his heroic act at Spa-Francorchamps in 1992, when he stopped his McLaren in the middle of the straight to rescue Eric Comas, who had crashed and was unconscious in a dangerous spot, with fuel leaking and the engine still running.
With the tragic death of Roland Ratzenberger on Saturday, the 1994 San Marino GP was already marked by sorrow—Formula 1 had not seen a fatal accident in 12 years, since 1982. Senna’s plan to honor the Austrian by raising his country’s flag is also based on true events, as revealed by Galvão Bueno.

Another emotional moment in Episode 6 is the conversation between Dr. Sid Watkins, Formula 1’s chief medical officer, and Senna on the eve of the San Marino GP. As depicted in the series, Sid tells Ayrton that they should leave everything behind and “go fishing.”

The episode also reveals a potential future plan for Senna’s career, showing him in conversation with Lauda—then Ferrari’s technical director—about a possible move to the Maranello-based team in the coming years.
Finally, one of the most significant moments of reconciliation between Senna and Prost is shown in Episode 6. The two stood together on the podium in Adelaide in 1993—Senna’s farewell to McLaren and Prost’s farewell to Formula 1—when Ayrton pulled Prost to the top step, showing his respect for the Williams driver. On May 1, 1994, French TV aired a message Senna sent to Prost directly from his Williams: “Alain, we miss you.”
The final minutes of Episode 6 also help clarify many of the series’ real-life events, using actual interviews with Senna, original footage from the GPs, and key scenes portrayed throughout the series. It also highlights some gems from Senna’s career, such as the 1993 Donington Park race, where he delivered the greatest opening lap in F1 history and lapped Prost in his Williams. Additionally, it showcases memorable interviews, including the one where he sends “a message to all of you watching right now,” as he begins one of his most iconic statements.
“Whoever you are, whatever your social position in life—whether it’s the highest or the lowest—always aim for great strength, great determination, and always do everything with a lot of love and a lot of faith in God, because one day you’ll get there. Somehow, you’ll get there”.
It’s certainly the perfect way to close a series filled with incredible stories about Ayrton Senna and how his values continue to inspire millions of people to this day.
Article originally produced for the website Senna.com by Rodrigo França.