King of SPEED

A thrilling new drama recounts the life and tragic death of F1 icon Ayrton Senna

- IAN MACEWAN

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the tragic death of Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna in a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix, aged 34.

To mark this motor-racing milestone, Netflix series Senna, starring Gabriel Leone in the title role, charts the life and career of the charismatic and supremely gifted driver, who won three Formula One World Championships.

As seen in the six-parter, the young Senna cut his teeth in a go-kart built by his father Milton (Marco Ricca), and from the get-go, he was totally committed to motorsport.

‘He started at the age of four,’ says Leone of the driver, who was dubbed the ‘Rain King’ because of his skills in the wet. ‘He practised in the rain more than anyone else. So it was a mix of talent and hard work.’

INNER DRIVE

Senna moved to England to pursue formula racing but, after winning the Formula Ford championship, he moved back to Brazil. However, he was soon tempted back by an offer to race in Formula One.