The curves of the Autódromo José Carlos Pace still hold tight to the memory of Ayrton Senna — a presence that has never truly left Brazil. His humanity, charisma, and the hope he gave to an entire nation continue to live on, especially when Formula 1 returns to São Paulo. As the Grand Prix weekend approaches, archives resurface with photos, videos, and personal stories, while the paddock fills with tribute helmets and special liveries dedicated to the three-time world champion.
Those who had the privilege of knowing Senna still speak of him with deep admiration, remembering both his brilliance behind the wheel and the impact of his personality. Among the many tributes, a particularly emotional one came from Adrian Newey — the legendary designer who shares a complicated history with the Brazilian icon. Adrian Newey was the engineer who designed the Williams FW16, the car in which Senna tragically lost his life at Imola in 1994. The British designer was accused at the time of pushing the limits too far in search of performance, allegedly at the cost of safety. He was later entangled in lengthy legal proceedings, but despite the controversy, his personal memories of Senna remain untarnished.
“I didn’t get the chance to know Ayrton well enough,” Adrian Newey shared during an appearance on James Allen’s podcast. “I remember back in 1993, when I was at Williams, Frank and Patrick asked me to take Ayrton on a tour of the factory. We went into the wind tunnel, and he immediately knelt down to look at the rear of the car — the suspension, the differences from the previous models. He asked a lot of questions, and I had to stay sharp to answer them all. He was, without any doubt, extraordinary.”
Adrian Newey’s recollection captures the essence of Senna’s relentless curiosity and technical mind — qualities that made him one of the most complete drivers in Formula 1 history. Even though their time together was short, the encounter left a lasting impression on the British engineer, who continues to speak about Senna with profound respect and emotion, more than three decades after that tragic weekend at Imola.
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