Fans and politicians come together to pay tribute to F1 legend Ayrton Senna on the 30th anniversary of his tragic death at Imola.

The 30th anniversary of the death of F1 icon Ayrton Senna is being commemorated with a memorial in Imola, as fans gathered at the track where he crashed in 1994 to pay their respects.

Senna was the sport’s brightest star, a hero to millions, especially in his native Brazil, but on lap seven of the ill-fated San Marino Grand Prix – a weekend that had already claimed the lives of the ‘Austrian Roland Ratzenberger – he left the road at 190 mph and hit a concrete wall. He died instantly, at the age of 34.

Wednesday marks three decades since Senna’s death and the occasion was observed by fans who paid their respects.

Additionally, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali was joined by politicians from Brazil, Italy and Austria, to remember Ratzenberger, who died during a qualifying session.

Flags, jerseys and posters bearing the Sao Paulo-born driver’s face adorned the gates of Imola on Wednesday, while many people surrounded the memorial in his honor and laid wreaths, lit candles and took a moment of reflection .

Fans visited the monument dedicated to the pilot during an event in his memory

A replica of Senna’s iconic helmet was placed on the monument dedicated to him by a fan

Fans gathered on Wednesday for the memorial event to mark the anniversary of his death.

Senna adjusts his rear view mirror in the pits before the start of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix

Senna won his three world championships with McLaren in 1988, 1990 and 1991. In 1994, he joined Williams after the retirement of Alain Prost.

The move had long been desired by Senna, but he was unhappy with the way his car performed following a number of rule changes and even predicted a potentially fatal accident could occur.

On the eve of the 1994 season, he said: “The cars are very fast and difficult to drive. It will be a season with a lot of accidents and I would hazard to say that we will be lucky if something really bad doesn’t happen.

And the terrible prophecy came true in Imola. While leading the race, Senna lost control of his Williams at the famous Tamburello corner. The right front suspension of the three-time world champion’s car pierced his helmet.

However, the race resumed less than 40 minutes later with victory for Michael Schumacher. Damon Hill, in the other Williams, crossed the line in sixth position, two places ahead of Martin Brundle.

During Saturday’s qualifying, Ratzenberger was killed when his car slammed into a concrete wall after the front fender of his Simtek-Ford broke.

Senna’s death sparked a wave of safety improvements at the Imola circuit and throughout F1, leading to shorter straights, extra space around dangerous corners and less powerful engines.

Fans pose near the scene of the accident that killed Ayrton Senna on the 30th anniversary of his death.

Fans walk the Imola track on the 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death

Others gathered for the event in his memory at the Imola circuit

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali (middle) is joined by Italian, Austrian and Brazilian politicians for the event.

Former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone revealed this week that he was told the sport would be canceled following the Brazilian driver’s death.

“It was just a disastrous weekend.” He told PA. “If you think about everything that happened, with Roland crashing and never getting out of his car, and then Senna, I really don’t think it would be possible for that to happen again.

“Max (Mosley – FIA president at the time) told me afterwards that he thought it would be the end of Formula 1.” I said, “I think you’re wrong and we’ll have to see.”

“We were hoping it wouldn’t cause what Max had suggested, but it was just a disaster. It wasn’t a good weekend and it seems a lot longer than 30 years. He’s had so many bad luck to die in this accident.

Senna remains the last driver to be killed in an F1 race. Jules Bianchi died nine months after injuries suffered during the Japanese Grand Prix ten years ago.

“Formula 1 became more popular after Senna’s death,” added Ecclestone. “It got so much publicity around the world that people who had never watched Formula 1 before started to take an interest in it.

The foreign ministers of Brazil, Austria and Italy pose alongside Domenicalli in front of a floral banner at the precise site of the accident that killed Senna

Tributes were also paid to Roland Ratzenberger, who died the day before Senna in 1994.

Ratzenberger’s mother, Margit Ratzenberger, and father Rudolf Ratzenberger are seen during the ceremony

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks at the ceremony in Imola on Wednesday.

“But I hope we never see something like this again, and I think today, with the way everything has improved in terms of security, thank God, the chances are much lower.”

The wave of emotion as the anniversary of Senna’s death approaches, even

Miami hosts the fifth round of this year’s championship this weekend, with F1 set to pay tribute to Senna at the Emilia-Romagna GP in Imola on May 19.