Thirty years later, Brazil pays tribute to late Formula 1 hero

Thirty years to the day after his death following an accident that sent shockwaves across the world, Brazilians will pay tribute on Wednesday to Formula One superstar Ayrton Senna, a beloved symbol of national pride comparable only to his compatriot Pelé.

Fans of the three-time Formula One world champion are expected to flock to Senna’s grave in a cemetery in his hometown of Sao Paulo, where he lies after his tragic accident at the Imola circuit on May 1, 1994.

Some will take part in a fun race held around the twists and turns of the Interlagos motorsport circuit, where Senna scored two stirring Formula 1 victories towards the end of his career in 1991 and 1993.

A wave of television programs have been broadcast to mark the anniversary, while an exhibition entitled “I, Ayrton Senna da Silva – 30 years” will be opened on Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro after a national tour.

The exhibition features an artificial intelligence-driven reconstruction of Senna’s voice, recounting the defining moments of his turbulent life and career.

“Brazil is at a standstill”

On Rio’s famous Copacabana Beach, a procession of fans young and old stopped to take photos with a bronze sculpture of Senna, arms aloft and waving a Brazilian flag in triumph.

Among them was 30-year-old Joao Paulo Bertoloni – only a baby when Senna died aged 34.

“I didn’t get a chance to see him live, but everyone was a fan of his in my family,” Bertoloni said.

“My father, my grandparents… Everyone told me about Senna. Brazil stopped on Sunday while he was running,” the business leader said.

Marilane Mattos, 66, still vividly remembers the moment she watched on television as Senna’s Williams car left the Imola track at around 300 km/h and crashed into a wall.

“It was horrible, it still makes me sad today,” she told AFP. “But I prefer to remember the good times. He was a simple guy like us.

‘Sense of pride’

Senna’s legacy in Brazil extends far beyond sporting theater.

The Ayrton Senna Institute was recognized by UNESCO in 2004 for its educational projects aimed at helping children from poor neighborhoods.

“Ayrton always said that if you want to change things, you have to start with education,” said Viviane Senna, Ayrton’s sister and president of the institute, in a recent video posted on social media .

Founded six months after Senna’s death, the institute claims to have benefited some 36 million students in 3,000 Brazilian cities.

For Brazilian writer Ernesto Rodrigues, author of the biography “Ayrton: The Hero Revealed”, Senna remains an important cultural figure because he “restored self-esteem to Brazilians” at a time when the country was struggling with political and economic crises.

“His name is on the streets all over the country. Every time his name is mentioned, it gives Brazilians a sense of pride. His legacy has been largely preserved,” Rodrigues said.

The Brazilian government declared three days of national mourning for Senna, who died in an Italian hospital from head injuries after the crash.

A million Brazilians came to pay their respects in Sao Paulo, crowding the airport and the city’s streets to view his coffin before a private funeral.