Ayrton Senna is revered as one of the greatest racers of all time. This Brazilian Formula 1 driver had an impressive career in Formula 1, which spanned from 1984 until his tragic death in 1994. During this time, Senna achieved a series of remarkable statistics.
World Titles
Senna drove for various teams in Formula 1, including Toleman, Lotus, McLaren, and Williams. His most successful period was with McLaren, where he raced from 1988 to 1993. During this time, he won three world championships in 1988, 1990, and 1991.
Victories
Senna achieved a total of 41 victories in Formula 1. This puts him at a winning percentage of 25.3% of all his races in the premier class of motorsport. His first victory was achieved in 1985 at the Grand Prix of Portugal, and his last victory was at the Grand Prix of Australia in 1993. When Michael Schumacher achieved his 41st victory in Monza in 2000, he broke down in tears during the press conference when asked what this meant to him.
Pole Positions
Senna was renowned for his qualifying prowess. He secured a total of 65 pole positions, a record he held for a long time. When Lewis Hamilton matched this record during the Canadian Grand Prix in 2017, Senna’s family gifted him an original race helmet that the Brazilian had worn in several races.
Podium Finishes
During his F1 career, Senna stood on the podium a total of 80 times. This accounts for 49.4% of all the races he participated in.
Leading Laps
Senna led a total of 2931 laps in the Formula 1 races he started. Max Verstappen recently surpassed him and now stands at 3060 laps.
Master of Monaco
Senna won the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix six times, a record that remains unmatched to this day. He won five of these consecutively, from 1989 to 1993.
Due to the increased reliability of cars in recent years and the higher number of races per season, many of his records have been broken. However, there are still a few that remain in his name:
- Number of pole positions at a single circuit: 8 (a record he shares with Schumacher and Hamilton)
- Consecutive starts from the front row: 24
- Consecutive pole positions: 8
