Our Bring Back V10s Classic Formula 1 podcast is back for a new series, starting with an episode dedicated to Ayrton Senna’s final Brazilian Grand Prix.
The 1994 race at Interlagos is not one of Senna’s more talked about F1 races, but it was the only time he completed a significant amount of a race distance driving a Williams, battling for supremacy with Michael Schumacher.
Veteran Brazilian broadcaster and journalist Lito Cavalcanti joins Glenn Freeman and Edd Straw to offer a local perspective on Senna’s move to Williams and the pressure and expectation he was facing heading into the season.
Our episode charts Senna’s journey to the 1994 season opener from the moment his move to Williams was announced in October ’93, covering subjects including:
– Why he needed a fresh start after six years at McLaren
– How Ron Dennis tried to get him to go back on his decision
– If McLaren’s works Peugeot engine deal for 1994 could have convinced him to stay
– The close relationship Senna had with Frank Williams before he signed for him
– Senna’s awareness of the spotlight he’d be under following Alain Prost’s retirement
– McLaren’s attempts to get Prost to race in 1994
– Senna’s talks with Benetton and Ferrari during 1993
– The expectations around Williams with rule changes for 1994
– What was wrong with the FW16 at the start of the year
– How Senna’s performances in a difficult car were overlooked at the time
– Schumacher’s Benetton being protested post-race
– What Williams needed to do to fix its car problem
– How Senna would have had to approach the first half of the ’94 season
Season two of Bring Back V10s will finish with a special episode where we take your questions on anything to do with F1 from 1989-2005. Submit your questions on Twitter using #BringBackV10s, or leave us a review on your podcast platform of choice and include a question for us to pick up.
