Ayrton Senna

Ayrton Senna da Silva (São Paulo, Brazil - March 21, 1960 - Bologna, Italy - May 1, 1994) was a Brazilian Formula 1 racing driver three times world champion in the years 1988, 1990 and 1991. He is considered the best racing driver of all time, as well as one of the greatest sportspeople of the 20th century and a national hero.

Premise

His personality has always been associated with a person with principles Christians, not refusing to declare his faith in God, manifesting on some occasions, having seen the creator.

He was a fan of concepts associated with right, although he never openly declared himself about his political-ideological position, except for the support given to businessman Antônio Ermírio de Moraes, when he was a candidate for the government of the state of São Paulo in 1986.

He valued the individual and his ability to overcome and achieve, not apologizing for defeats, always seeking improvement and the achievement of perfection. He praised success and victories. He didn't stick to lobbys or collusions, he constantly struggled against the system in Formula 1.

Senna was a patriot, he praised national symbols, he declared abroad his passion for the country. He believed in the development of Brazil, mainly through education. This thought was the origin for the creation of the Ayrton Senna Institute in late 1994.

His rivalry with the Frenchman Alain Prost, notably from the 1989 Japanese Grand Prix, when he was disqualified, after winning the race, thus losing the chance of the title, is considered the greatest in motorsport and one of the greatest in the sports of all times.

During free practice for the 1992 Belgian Grand Prix, Senna helped save the life of French racing driver Érik Comas.

His death, on May 1, 1994, caused one of the biggest commotions in the history of Brazil, with great worldwide repercussion. His funeral, on May 4, took millions of Brazilians to the streets of São Paulo.

Quotes

• I want to be respected for what I do.
• I want to improve everything, always.
• My family has always been very close. This was essential for me to keep my balance and to get where I am. It was this united family that gave me this structure of principles, since I was a child until today.
• For me, what is most important among the important things is to know God to understand his strength, his truth. But I'm still not done with my search. It will be a long march.
• I drive a fast racing car for the feeling of driving at high speed, to discover new limits, mine and the car. And for me, this is associated with a very strong desire to win.
• You have to do something special, stand out, not just win. Every year someone wins a championship. I look for something beyond that.
• Children are the future. If we want to change something, it is for children that we should start, through their education.
• I worked hard to achieve success, but I would achieve nothing if God did not help.
• My life's values are stronger than other people's desire to destroy those values.
• I could never be another Formula One driver.