- 33,155
- Hammerhead Garage
Because Roland Ratzenberger didn't walk away from his accident. The night before the San Marino Grand Prix, Senna had serious reservations about whether he could race at all, and (allegedly) very nearly backed out.
Ayrton Senna: "If only it had happened like this..."
- Thread starter Tom
- 87 comments
- 28,691 views
- 3,990
- Area 10
- Valkyrize92
The picture hit me hard. 
Giving the possibilities if he were to be alive, he won't won the 1994 championship, that William car is not up to par with the Benetton and the sports i think will have another death. Because of his death, that's what contribute to the safety on nowdays Fomula 1. Major part. (Friday: Barrichello, Saturday: Ratzenberg, Sunday: Senna)
Also, as prisonermokeys said, Bruno Senna will start his racing career earlier.
R.I.P legend. v_v
Giving the possibilities if he were to be alive, he won't won the 1994 championship, that William car is not up to par with the Benetton and the sports i think will have another death. Because of his death, that's what contribute to the safety on nowdays Fomula 1. Major part. (Friday: Barrichello, Saturday: Ratzenberg, Sunday: Senna)
Also, as prisonermokeys said, Bruno Senna will start his racing career earlier.
R.I.P legend. v_v
- 30,236
- Bratvegas
- GTP_Liquid
This. As Sid Watkins said to him the day before, he'd won everything and had nothing left to prove. Barrichello's accident hit him hard and you know his reaction after Ratzenberger's crash. The only time he shook his head after an accident, I think, which is something considering how lucky Martin Donnelly was. I would not have been surprised if he retired there and then.
I disagree with comments I've read from time to time saying "Ayrton would have won 3 more titles if he had lived; 1994-1996". I disagree. The Williams in 1994 was nowhere near as good as the quote/unquote "legal" Benetton, and Senna had two DNFs prior to Imola; an accident that wasn't his fault at Aida and an embarrassing spin at Interlagos which you could blame on the poor balance of the car. 1995; we all know Benetton cruised it that year. Easily the best car, coupled with the best engine. Some more wins for Senna, probably. 1996; It came good for Williams. But, if Senna had continued and my assertion is that it would have been two years of lukewarm performances, he would have retired at the end of 1995. Definitely nothing left to prove, and he would be approaching 36-37, a typical time to retire.
One 'What if...' I always find interesting is the story in Eddie Jordan's autobiography about how, before he signed for Williams, Jordan held talks with Senna where he offered him a 50% share in the team, full control over car development, guaranteed preference, the whole nine yards with all the trimmings; a way for him to gradually change from driving to managing. I've never heard this story as being confired as true, but it's a very interesting hypothetical. Barrichello and Senna racing side by side in the superb little Jordan 194? We can only dream.
This too. He's always a forgotten man. Regardless if Senna survived, things would have changed that weekend. Ratzenberger drove on rails into a concrete wall at ~190mph, in an era with significantly less cockpit protection, sidewalls and so on. That crash alone was a massive wake up call.
Max Mosley didn't attend Senna's funeral along with the rest of the paddock. He went to Ratzenberger's because he "felt it was important that somebody went to Roland's", which I find admirable.
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- 7,188
- Lisboa
- FLAT_TWELVE
I understand the good intention of the artist, but that drawing is just wrong. Senna died in his car and that's that. What ifs .... don't mater much.
Can't help also to state that I find it sad that Interludes couldn't overcome his urge to "have a go" at Bruno, even when the subject is Ayrton's death. Ex-mod and occasional troll don't mix well. Oh, wait, maybe they do ...
Can't help also to state that I find it sad that Interludes couldn't overcome his urge to "have a go" at Bruno, even when the subject is Ayrton's death. Ex-mod and occasional troll don't mix well. Oh, wait, maybe they do ...
- 22,551
- Arizona
- HamiltonMP427
- 7,188
- Lisboa
- FLAT_TWELVE
Hey I don't find it offensive. I can't even describe properly what that drawing makes me feel. And as I said I understand there's a good intention from the artist there. But that ... didn't happen.
The only way that drawing should be interpreted is if you understand that what you are looking at is Ayrton's soul getting out of the car. But that's as off topic as Bruno Senna.
The only way that drawing should be interpreted is if you understand that what you are looking at is Ayrton's soul getting out of the car. But that's as off topic as Bruno Senna.
Don't go there.
Fixed.
- 30,236
- Bratvegas
- GTP_Liquid
I'm throwing this out in relation to Schumacher 'smiling' in the second painting on page one. Of course it's only our interpretations but it's almost as though Schumacher is glad Senna crashes? Not a chance. He was deeply upset by Senna's death and by surpassing his records as this video shows.
- 7,188
- Lisboa
- FLAT_TWELVE
I'm no Schumacher fan, (quite the contrary), but that "painting" was made by a Schumacher hater, and "haters" do not deserve comments or respect.
- 30,236
- Bratvegas
- GTP_Liquid
I can understand but like that video shows, there's a side to Schumacher we don't often hear about. At the end of Adelaide 1994 he dedicated his title to Ayrton. And upon equalling his number of victories he cried.
I just hope people don't catch sight of that painting, put 2+2 together and get 5.
I just hope people don't catch sight of that painting, put 2+2 together and get 5.
- 10,373
- Manchester
- Ardius_
Much closer than some people would have considered a "too old rookie only there because of his name". 1994 Damon clearly stepped up, no he wouldn't have ever beaten Senna but he wouldn't have been miles away and would have still played a part in the championship battle. I fully believe Hill would have sneaked a win against Senna on his day, no not consistently but when Hill was on it, he was able to beat the best.
- 10,373
- Manchester
- Ardius_
You also said "nowhere near", which wasn't the case with Prost and wouldn't be the case if he beat Senna on one or two occasions. To me thats reasonably close enough for a comparative newbie who was the same age as Senna with well over half the experience!
I don't know about you, but beating Prost and theoretically beating Senna even just for one or two races is pretty commendable - sure its not worthy of glory perhaps but equally it shows he's a bit more than "nowhere".
I don't know about you, but beating Prost and theoretically beating Senna even just for one or two races is pretty commendable - sure its not worthy of glory perhaps but equally it shows he's a bit more than "nowhere".
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- 4,579
- Houston, TX
- astrosdude91
If Schumacher was smiling, then it was only because he saw the man leading the race go off, giving him the lead. Schumacher felt terrible after the race, just like everyone else in motorsport.
- 793
agreed.
I also found the many photos of Nazi era war planes to be a bit off. Especially considering Lithuania's nazi occupation during WWII.
I am an aviation enthusiast and would love to fly a Fw190 or a Bf109 but i separate the plane from the setting and his photos do not do that. Instead i feel it glorifies that era.
- 1,094
- United Kingdom
- jedivenom
I find both of the pictures to be in poor taste. Whilst I don't deny the talent involved in the pictures, I find the subject matter disturbing. And if anybody thinks that any professional driver would be happy that any of their rivals had been or was about to killed is very immature.
I do not wish to offend or cause any ill feeling to anyone on this forum, that is not my intention.
I personally feel sickened by these pictures, and any of the silly and petty arguments that has come from them.
I do not wish to offend or cause any ill feeling to anyone on this forum, that is not my intention.
I personally feel sickened by these pictures, and any of the silly and petty arguments that has come from them.
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- 5,379
- Yokohama
- F1fan1
I don't really see the fuss over the picture of Michael. He may appear to be smiling, but it's before Senna has crashed. We don't even know if it was the artists intention to make him look like he was smiling. I think some people may be overreacting in this case.
- 5,184
- Phoenix, AZ
- nitrorocks
Did Ayrton do anything strange after Roland's crash. I remember he kept reading bible verses the morning of the Grand Prix, and he read a certain verse that said he was going to "receive the greatest gift of all and that was god". I also remember those video clips of him sitting in the car before the race looking uncomfortable. Did anything else peculiar happen?
- 1,194
- New York
- XSVterror16
- xsvterror16
nitrorocks
He locked himself in the trailer and wasn't seen for the rest of the day. He overall was coming to term with his mortality and that he really could be killed in the car. You could see in his eyes that he knew his time was coming, he didn't know when, but he knew it was.
- 40,983
He basically broke down. As I understand it, he took it harder than anyone else who was there.
- 5,184
- Phoenix, AZ
- nitrorocks
That's sad.
- 1,382
- Bristol, England
- Smuttysy
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...
Holy s***, that picture brought tears to my eyes. The only F1 driver I've ever felt deserved the "hero" status they seem to be gifted with today.
- 8,246
- Drayton Bassett, North Warwickshire
- Duffers999
- Clark Duffy
I still don't get the idolisation that seems to be unique to Senna, or if the fact that he died just reinforced that. I think there are plenty of drivers who have shown to have just as much if not more natural talent than Senna, chiefl among them Jean Alesi.
- 30,236
- Bratvegas
- GTP_Liquid
Senna backed it up with success.
I agree that Alesi was a fantastically talented driver, but Alesi's heart took him to Ferrari in 1991 when his head should have taken him to Williams.
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