How Ayrton Senna’s Tragic Death Changed Motorsports Forever

The Death of Ayrton Senna and the Long Search for Blame

History on Instagram: "In 1994, Formula 1 suffered one of its darkest moments when three-time world champion Ayrton Senna fatally crashed during the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola. On May 1, while leading the race, Senna’s Williams car speared off the track at the high-speed Tamburello corner and struck a concrete wall at roughly 190 mph, causing catastrophic injuries. The weekend had already been marred by serious accidents, including the death of Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger during qual

On September 10, 2000, Michael Schumacher won the Italian Grand Prix, equalling Ayrton Senna’s tally of victories. He became highly emotional at the post-race press conference, breaking down in tears, later revealing that his thoughts had turned to Senna’s tragic death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Mika Häkkinen and Ralf Schumacher completed the podium on a day forever marked by Schumacher’s raw display of humanity. Video from ESPN F1 | Salracing