Well, it's hard to compare him to the greats of SC like Boxer, Nada etc, but I felt it was necessary after watching a piece of film of him from the latest Top Gear episode.
I was simply amazed at how he controlled his vehicle. It was very unique, erratic, but to the point where the style he drove allowed him to get himself to the top. The film showed how he managed to drive based on the feel for the grip of his car, unlike other drivers these days who drive based on racing lines and what not.
The most amazing piece of film I saw was the British GP in 1990 (?), it was pouring in rain and he started fifth on the grid. In just forty seconds, he managed to climb all the way from fifth to first, in the rain, on SLICK tires. It seemed all too easy for him.
Honestly I never really appreciated how good he was (I grew up in the era of M. Schumacher domination), but after watching that piece of film, he's risen up to one of my most appreciated race car drivers.
Also I would link to the video but I can't find it anywhere (for just that clip).
Just watched the episode as well. They are hardly going to top it ever, it was simply amazing. I remember watching the Imola Race very clear. Ever since I was a little kid I admired the british drivers - Mansell, Hill etc so I wasnt really a Senna fan, but my brother absolutely loved Ayrton and after the crash and the news he was dead, my brother was completely devastated and cried for days.
If I have to make a parallel between Senna and some of the SC players, it has to be iloveoov. The dominance and the desire to win above everything else is very similar
Honestly, despite this being an SC forum and despite the fact that Nada, etc. are very talented make no mistake formula 1 drivers are some of the most skilled people on this planet. The physical exertion of keeping your heart beat very high well over an hour as well as the loads from the various forces particularly under braking coupled with the mental side of things. Not only do you constantly have to focus on getting around the track as fast as you can as well as trying to pass or defend, but for so long and it can all happen so so fast.
There was a video of Schumacher as well where they showed his driving pattern vs another driver's and his wasn't smooth at all, yet it made him quicker. I hafta say having driving experience, racing in the rain is crazy. Your grip limit is a very small window and once it passes you keep it goin.. or keep on goin. I guess the biggest shame is that its not financially feasible for the vast majority of people to race, that's where gaming shines.
The sheer fact that they have to endure g-forces only fighter pilots and astronauts would regularly feel means they have to be very physically fit, which says even more about them than their insane hand-eye coordination (shifting), fine motor skills (steering and feeling the track) and tactical acumen (position defense and overtaking ability).
I'd say BoxeR = Fangio NaDa = Senna; and yes, very bad as it may sound... Flash = Schumacher. It just seems so appropriate.
Senna F1 bonjwa, Senna is just unbelievable. I too thought very much like Clarkson with Gilles Villeneuve as being the greatest (might be my Canadian bias lol), but when you really think about it... Senna.
After Senna's death, F-1 Racing went from a extremely popular sport in Brazil to basically non-existant. Up to nowadays it's still something heavily debated. Senna is still considered a hero, despite all controversy about his life (which includes amongst other things, claims that he was gay).
EPT
