Ayrton Senna’s Greatness Amplified as Lewis Hamilton Reveals the Horrendous Dangers of Previous F1 Era

In the words of Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson, “Speed has never killed anyone. Suddenly becoming stationary, that’s what gets you.” When you think about it, it wasn’t Ayrton Senna’s high-speed maneuver through the Tamburello corner in Imola that robbed the world of the racing legend. It was the Brazilian’s impact with the wall—him suddenly coming to a stop—that took him too soon. Despite that, his legacy and greatness live on, especially through the subtle tributes Lewis Hamilton gives him. 

As F1 evolved into the sport it is today, it went from being one of the most dangerous sports in the world to still being one of the most dangerous sports, but with the added benefit of much more safety. Having seen crashes like Senna’s in 1994 and Jules Bianchi’s in 2014, F1 has had to adapt as it’s gotten faster and more technologically advanced. The added safety now has highlighted the dangers of past generations, and Hamilton revealed just what it was like back in the 90s.

A Lewis Hamilton lesson on how F1 has gotten safer

Lewis Hamilton might be one of the greatest drivers of this generation, but for him, no one can top the greatness of Ayrton Senna. The 38-year-old Briton, who’s an inspiration for young drivers right now, has often expressed how much he idolizes Senna, even after his passing. When the seven-time champion revealed just how different F1 was back in the Senna days, it painted a picture of exactly why the Brazilian’s aggressive and fearless driving style is worth all the “all-time great” attributions.

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In a video on Sky Sports’ YouTube channel, Hamilton explains everything an F1 driver has to wear while racing. While talking about the present-day, lightweight racing boots, the seven-time champion explained, “The key is to have not too thick soles so you can feel the throttle and the brake. And again, these are fireproof.” Comparing them to previous generations, he said, “Back in the olden days, when Ayrton [Senna] was racing, [the racing shoes] would’ve been made of suede. The boot would come higher to protect the ankle from a crash, so the wishbone doesn’t come through and pierce through your leg.”

While driving an F1 car, drivers practically lie down with their legs stretched out. This makes it so that their feet are between the wishbones connecting the wheels to the cockpit. Hamilton added, “We don’t have that. It’s all carbon fiber now. So you’re more safe inside.” It’s no secret Hamilton tries to bring up his fascination for Senna every chance he gets. Have you ever wondered why he isn’t a fan of the driver who took over the reins from Senna?

Read More: “Senna Lives in You”: Lewis Hamilton’s Heartfelt Ayrton Senna Homage Strikes the Emotional Chord Amongst Fans

Michael Schumacher will never be as great as Senna for Lewis Hamilton

If you compare Michael Schumacher and Senna’s driving styles, you’ll realize they couldn’t be more different. While Schumacher had this almost perfect, textbook method of driving, Senna’s was based more on instinct and feeling. That’s precisely why Hamilton enjoyed watching Senna more—because of his raw yet mesmerizing way of driving. F1 journalist James Allen explained why drivers like Hamilton and Fernando Alonso gravitate more toward Senna.

In his book, Michael Schumacher: The Edge of Greatness, Allen wrote, “Schumacher had a bit of the devil in him, and many people are unwilling to forgive him for that. Combined with this was a meticulous dedication to his craft, the quest for perfection. The French actress Jeanne Moreau once said that ‘perfection in a man is easy to admire but hard to love,’ and this observation certainly applied to Michael Schumacher, the racing driver. He did not have Senna’s sense of style nor his obvious raw passion. Instead, precision, hard work, and discipline were his hallmarks, qualities which do not win over hearts and minds.”

Do you feel Lewis Hamilton emulates Ayrton Senna’s qualities in his driving?

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