Senna saw disaster coming: newspaper column on the day of his death

Under the headline “Tragic confirmation of my warnings,” Senna wrote in the issue of May 1, 1994, with what was, in retrospect, frightening frankness, that tracks like Imola would “technically expose the sore spot” of his Williams-Renault. “My car reacts a bit nervously on race tracks like this. This is due to its special aerodynamics, but also to a difficulty in the suspension.” However, the 34-year-old also said that he was optimistic for the race. In the afternoon, the shining light of Formula 1 died in the Tamburello curve .

Senna had “a really bad feeling” about the race Ratzenberger's death on Saturday may have left the superstar in a state of shock. In the hours that followed, Senna was very thoughtful, former confidants reported. His girlfriend at the time, Adriane Galisteu, said he had a “really bad feeling” about the race. Senna visited the spot where the Salzburger had flown off the track. Formula 1 chief physician Sid Watkins wanted to persuade him to resign. He even spoke to his friend Gerhard Berger about how Formula 1 could be made safer.

It is still not clear what caused Senna's accident. The German Michael Schumacher claims to have observed that the Williams was actually a bit strange on the road during the race. Years later, Adrian Newey, the team's highly acclaimed designer, attributed the departure to an aerodynamic design flaw. The side pods were too long and on a course with lots of bumps like Imola there was a high risk of a stall in places. The fact is that at some point the car's handlebar broke.

Rescue operation in a fatal crash. © AFP / JEAN-LOUP GAUTREAU

In any case, the official cause of death was severe head injuries. Debris from the front suspension had pierced the Brazilian's helmet. At the time, the public prosecutor's office charged six people with allegations of negligent homicide - including team boss Frank Williams, head of technology Patrick Head and Newey. Everyone was ultimately acquitted and the case took eleven years to complete. “Many people blamed us for it. As if we had stolen a painting by Michelangelo from the world,” Williams once explained in retrospect.

“I will do everything I can to stage an exciting fight.” Ayrton Senna in the newspaper column on the day of his death

“I will give everything to stage an exciting fight,” Senna ended his column at the time. And he promised that he would try to ensure that “for Benetton and Schumacher there is not what was predicted to me before the season: a solo attempt to win the title.” As we all know, everything was supposed to be different. Schumacher won the irrelevant San Marino Grand Prix on May 1, 1994 and won his first world title in the same year, one point ahead of Senna's ex-teammate Damon Hill.

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Senna saw disaster coming: newspaper column on the day of his death

Before his accidental death 25 years ago today, Ayrton Senna addressed the issue of safety in a newspaper comment. In the article for the German newspaper “Welt am Sonntag” he admitted problems with the set-up of his Williams in Imola. A few hours later, the Brazilian had a fatal accident.

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