Ayrton Senna: "If only it had happened like this..."

[Tom]

A painting by Oleg Konin. As SPEED's Will Buxton said: "If only it had happened like this..."

Just imagine, how different Motorsport could have been...

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Just imagine, how different Motorsport could have been...

Not very, I'd say. I suspect Senna would have retired on the spot.

 

[hawkeye122]

Not very, I'd say. I suspect Senna would have retired on the spot.

If he hadn't retired, I bet he could have been picked up by Benneton, or Ferrari. We may have had a good fight through the end of the 90's. But he would have retired by '01.

 

[Tom]

Not very, I'd say. I suspect Senna would have retired on the spot.

You say that but he did say to Prof. Sid Watkins that he couldn't, even after Ratzenberger had died.

 

[hawkeye122]

You say that but he did say to Prof. Sid Watkins that he couldn't, even after Ratzenberger had died.

He did say that, but there come a time where you have no choice. Barichello springs to mind.

He would have either A. Gotten too old or B. Been killed or seriously injured. That is what happened.

 

[Peter.]

Not very, I'd say. I suspect Senna would have retired on the spot.

Protested Jackie Stewart style, yes. Retired, no. Senna, like Stewart, probably would have continued racing regardless, but protested that the sport needed to be safer while doing so.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

If he hadn't retired, I bet he could have been picked up by Benneton, or Ferrari.

He didn't like the way the sport was going. He thought it was too dangerous and that it was only a matter of time before someone got killed. He had already done everything he had set out to do in Formula 1. So while he could have stayed at Williams or moved to Ferrari or Benneton, I think it is far more likely that he would have left the sport.

If Ayrton Senna had survived, I think the only thing that really would have changed is someone else would be driving alongside Pastor Maldonado in 2012 - Bruno Senna would have continued his career racing, he would have made it to Formula 1 sooner, and he would have proved to be underwhelming and would not have stayed in the sport.

You say that but he did say to Prof. Sid Watkins that he couldn't, even after Ratzenberger had died.

Senna would have known that his accident at Imola was a bad one. He would have been increasingly hard-pressed to justify staying in the sport after it.

 

[RTSolvalou]

If it hadn't, certain motorsport safety measures would've come later after someone else died instead.

 

[nitrorocks]

Yeah.......but that's the way he would want to go. Not dieting of old age. I wish the picture was true

 

[F1 fan]

If it hadn't, certain motorsport safety measures would've come later after someone else died instead.

What makes you think that the same safety measures wouldn't have been introduced after Roland's death?

 

[Paulie Walnuts]

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/oleg-konin.html

I find this one disturbing:

 

[hawkeye122]

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/oleg-konin.html

I find this one disturbing:

That really is... Is Michael smiling?

 

[Raikkonen1337]

i dont think he would of won many if any more championships if he survived that crash, better to burn out than fade away

 

[jcm]

If Ayrton Senna had survived, I think the only thing that really would have changed is someone else would be driving alongside Pastor Maldonado in 2012 - Bruno Senna would have continued his career racing, he would have made it to Formula 1 sooner, and he would have proved to be underwhelming and would not have stayed in the sport.

Don't go there

 

[Grand Prix]

Possibly could have messed up Schumacher's early career. Hard to say.

I do know one thing though, the knee-jerk reaction resulting in changed track layouts would not have happened until later on.

 

[F1 fan]

You don't think Roland's death would have been a big enough wake up call? Personally, I think Senna himself would've led the safety campaign had he survived. Kind of ironic when you consider the way he took offence to JYS's comments.

 

[Grand Prix]

You don't think Roland's death would have been a big enough wake up call? Personally, I think Senna himself would've led the safety campaign had he survived. Kind of ironic when you consider the way he took offence to JYS's comments.

No, I do, but the fact that Senna died as well was just too much. Someone else would have died regardless, to hasten the changes I think.

 

[astrosdude91]

If he had survived, we might have seen a Senna-Schumacher rivalry. Think of the possibilities!

But I doubt he would've won another championship. If the first few races of '94 were any indication, Senna just didn't have it. It would've been Schumacher's year in any case.

But we can only speculate.

 

[F1 fan]

But I doubt he would've won another championship. If the first few races of '94 were any indication, Senna just didn't have it. It would've been Schumacher's year in any case.

The Schumi fan in me says yes, but I can't help but think that Senna would've done it in the end. Just look at the way Damon stepped up to the plate. If he could do it, Ayrton could have too.

 

[f40]

If he had survived, we might have seen a Senna-Schumacher rivalry. Think of the possibilities!

But I doubt he would've won another championship. If the first few races of '94 were any indication, Senna just didn't have it. It would've been Schumacher's year in any case.

But we can only speculate.

I wouldn't say Senna didn't have it- he took 3 poles, but basically it would have panned out like 2006 did in my opinion. Senna would have produced strong performances but lose out after a season long fight with the best of the young guns. His less experienced teammate (Hill) would have popped up to win a couple of races like Massa did, but end up nowhere near Senna's Williams.

 

[Blitz24]

I still think that Ayrton would have been out of Formula 1 by 1997 or 1998 if he didn't have his life tragically cut short. Probably would have won 4 or 5 races before hanging it up for good.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

All I have to say is this guy is an amazing artist

 

[Tornado]

I think interludes has it pegged, honestly. Senna was a wreck when Ratzenberger died, and had he survived his crash I think it would have been the last straw. Especially with how dark that weekend was in general with Ruben's crash factored in as well.

 

[jcm]

I think interludes has it pegged, honestly. Senna was a wreck when Ratzenberger died, and had he survived his crash I think it would have been the last straw. Especially with how dark that weekend was in general with Ruben's crash factored in as well.

I agree with most of that, however if the safety increased as much as it did in this dimension, Ayrton might have returned after a brief retirement.

 

[Paulie Walnuts]

That really is... Is Michael smiling?

I interpret it more like "what if Schumacher had crashed instead" which is stupid and disturbing.

 

[nitrorocks]

No. Ayrton was only 34. He had about 5 years left in him. I think he wasn't done winning.

 

[marchi]

The Schumi fan in me says yes, but I can't help but think that Senna would've done it in the end. Just look at the way Damon stepped up to the plate. If he could do it, Ayrton could have too.

Then as a Schumi fan, you'd know that Damon only got into the title after Schumacher was DQ'd from 4 races towards seasons end. He didn't step up to the plate, he was handed an opportunity. Michael was far and away the best driver that year. I think Senna wouldn't have let the title lead blow out so much, but I don't think Michael would suffer from the same bs that he did in order to make it a close fight.

I think if Senna had lived, there would be far less emphasis placed on Schumachers 'indiscretions' then people do. Senna would rightly have said about Jerez that, that is racing. Monaco maybe not, but Jerez most certainly.

 

[F1 fan]

I am fully aware of Schumacher's DQ's that season. My statement was more to do with my opinion on both Damon and Ayrton's ability.

 

[Grand Prix]

Edit:

Nevermind, delete

 

[squirlybmx]

Honestly, if he had survived the crash, it wouldn't even come close to stopping him from racing. The impact hit just right to cause the injuries which took his life. Had the impact not been the way it was, he would've unbuckled, jumped out, and walked right back to the paddock. If he didn't quit when he flipped the Mclaren in 1991 in Mexico, the crash which made him realize his mortality and that he could be killed in the car, why would he have quit from a normal side impact which he would've just walked away from?