Remembering Ayrton Senna Through Voices That Lived His Era
Few names in motorsport history carry the emotional weight of Ayrton Senna. More than three decades after his death, the Brazilian driver remains a symbol of raw talent, relentless commitment, and an almost spiritual connection to racing. Now, a new documentary series titled Senna e Eu (Senna and Me) sets out to explore that legacy from a deeply personal perspective—through the voices of those who witnessed it firsthand.
Premiering this week, on January 22nd, the eight-part documentary series is an initiative of the Caramulo Museum, produced with the support of Standvirtual and in partnership with Jornal dos Clássicos. Rather than offering a conventional chronological biography, Senna e Eu takes a more intimate route, focusing on memories, encounters, and emotions shared by drivers, journalists, and close observers who crossed paths with Senna during his remarkable career.
A Legacy Told in the First Person
Across eight episodes, the series builds a multifaceted portrait of Ayrton Senna through exclusive first-person testimonies. Contributors include figures such as Emerson Fittipaldi, Alan Mosca, Manuel de Mello Breyner, and John Watson, among others—names that carry authority and credibility within the world of Formula 1 and motorsport history.
These accounts go beyond statistics, victories, and championship titles. Instead, they reveal behind-the-scenes moments, personal impressions, and lesser-known stories that help explain what made Senna different. His intensity, his uncompromising approach to competition, and the almost obsessive pursuit of perfection are recurring themes, painted not by hindsight alone, but by lived experience.
The result is a narrative that feels less like a monument and more like a conversation—one that allows the audience to connect with Senna as both an extraordinary athlete and a deeply complex individual.
Portugal’s Defining Role in the Senna Myth
For Portuguese audiences in particular, Senna e Eu holds special significance. Portugal occupies a central place in the story of Ayrton Senna’s rise to greatness, and the series makes a point of revisiting that chapter with deserved emphasis.
It was at the Estoril Circuit, on April 21, 1985, that Senna claimed his first-ever Formula 1 victory. Racing in torrential rain, the young Lotus driver delivered a performance that instantly set him apart from the rest of the grid. That afternoon is widely regarded as the moment the motorsport world realized it was witnessing the birth of something exceptional.
The documentary returns to Estoril not merely as a historical footnote, but as a symbolic location—one where talent, conditions, and destiny aligned. By doing so, the series reinforces Portugal’s role in shaping one of Formula 1’s most enduring legends.
More Than a Documentary Series
By blending historical context with personal recollections, Senna e Eu aims to offer an immersive experience rather than a definitive verdict on Senna’s career. It invites viewers to reflect on what Senna represented to those around him—and why his influence continues to resonate so strongly today.
The series will be released weekly, every Thursday, on the YouTube channels of Jornal dos Clássicos and Standvirtual, ensuring broad and easy access for fans around the world. At a later stage, the episodes will also be broadcast on television via A Bola TV, expanding its reach even further.
As of January 24th, the journey has just begun—and for longtime admirers of Ayrton Senna as well as newer generations discovering his story, Senna e Eu promises to be essential viewing.
Watch the official trailer below and step back into the world of a driver who changed Formula 1 forever.
Video Credits: Jornal dos Clássicos
