Brazil Is still Searching for F-1 Idol 25 Years after The Sennas Death

Only Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa have won races since three-time champions death

São Paulo

If you are at least 30 years old, then you probably remember what you were doing on May 1, 1994. On this day Ayrton Senna’s death is marked in your memory. 

With Rubens Barrichello, 46, it’s no different. He was just a young man of 21 years and had just left the Bologna Maggiore hospital, the same in which his idol was declared dead. The young man had suffered a horrible accident in training on Friday. Senna even visited him before his death. 

A poster bearing a photo of Brazilian's F1 driver Ayrton Senna signed by fans is displayed during a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the death of Brazilian's F1 driver Ayrton Senna at the Imola "Enzo and Dino Ferrari" circuit during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO / AFP) - AFP

On that Sunday, Rubinho heard a difficult question for the first time. “How do you feel being the main Brazilian in the F-1,?” asked by Folha, by telephone to the driver. “I am in second place in the championship, fighting to be first, but I feel like it’s just the beginning,” he responded timidly. 

Rubinho ended up having a solid career, with 19 seasons in the F-1. But since Senna conquered his last world title in 1991, no other Brazilian has repeated this. 

Barrichello, proclaimed to be the successor of his idol, was first to suffer from the responsibility that was thrown on him that day— May 1. 

Felip Massa also came close. In 2008, he crossed the winner’s line at the Interlagos Grand Prix certain that he had won but the British Lewis Hamilton, just 500 meters from the end, managed fifth place and his first title, one point in front of Massa. 

Since then, the trophy is getting more and more difficult for a Brazilian to conquer. Brazil has had 16 F-1 drivers since Senna's death, with 22 victories (all from Barrichello and Massa, with 11 wins each). This is just over half of Senna's total wins (41).

The last Brazilian victory in the F-1, won by Rubinho in the GP of Monza in 2009, was ten years ago in September. Since last year Brazil has no representative in the category grid. 

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

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