Following a disappointing start to the season in Rio de Janeiro, where an electrical failure cost him a podium finish, Ayrton Senna arrived at Estoril in Portugal determined to make amends. The Lotus team had shown flashes of pace in Brazil, and Senna was confident of unleashing the full potential of his Renault-powered 97T at the undulating circuit. Senna’s confidence was justified as he dominated qualifying, securing pole position by a comfortable margin of 0.413 seconds over Alain Prost’s McLaren. Teammate Elio de Angelis, who had outqualified Senna in Rio, could only manage third, complaining of tire issues. Senna was delighted with his first-ever F1 pole position, acknowledging the importance of a clean start in the wet conditions that were expected for the race. He had faith in the car’s performance with a full fuel load and was eager to see how he could manage the pace. Senna’s optimism was well-founded as the race day dawned with torrential rain drenching the Estoril circuit. The wet conditions presented a great opportunity for Senna, who had showcased his exceptional skills in similar circumstances during the previous year’s Monaco Grand Prix. Senna made a lightning start, leaving Prost in his wake and establishing an early lead. De Angelis also made a strong start, moving into second place, while Prost initially slotted into third, ahead of Michele Alboreto’s Ferrari. Senna’s lead grew rapidly as he lapped consistently faster than his rivals, demonstrating his mastery of the wet conditions. De Angelis fought hard to keep Prost at bay, but Senna was simply untouchable. The rain intensified as the race progressed, creating treacherous conditions that led to numerous accidents. Drivers spun off left, right, and center, but Senna remained unfazed, extending his advantage to over 30 seconds by the time Prost crashed out of the race, aquaplaning across the start-finish line and spinning into the barriers. Senna continued to push, waving his arm to the officials to indicate that the conditions were becoming increasingly dangerous. His complaints were echoed by other drivers, including Nelson Piquet, who retired from the race, citing the hopelessness of his Brabham-BMW’s Pirelli tires in the wet. Despite the worsening conditions, Senna held firm, maintaining his lead and setting the fastest lap of the race. As the race approached its scheduled end, officials were keen to stretch the distance to at least three-quarters in order to award full points. However, the relentless rain and numerous accidents made this impossible, and the race was eventually stopped three laps short of its planned duration. Senna crossed the finish line to claim a famous victory, 1m02.978s ahead of second-placed Alboreto. Tambay completed the podium, while de Angelis faded back to fourth. Senna’s joy at winning his first Grand Prix was evident as he unbuckled his seatbelts and waved both hands in the air. The image of him returning to parc ferme, greeted by his Lotus team manager Peter Warr and his jubilant mechanics, has become an iconic moment in Formula 1 history. When asked after the race what this first victory meant to him, Senna replied with a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment: “It means that all the years and all the effort I have put into motor racing, since [I was] four years old, are giving me something good back.” Senna’s victory at Estoril was a resounding statement of his immense talent and unwavering determination. It marked the beginning of a legendary career that would see him become one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time.
Senna’s Sensational Estoril Triumph: A Tale of Wet-Weather Mastery
