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Special tribute to
.   Gilles Villeneuve |
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 Ayrton Senna |
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| F1 racing: 1977-1982 | F1 racing: 1984-1994 | |
| Best Championship: 2nd place in 1979 | World Championship: 3 times - 1988, 1990, 1991 | |
| Race starts: 67 | Race starts: 161 | |
| Wins: 6 | Wins: 41 | |
| Podium finishes: 13 | Podium finishes: 80 | |
| Pole positions: 2 | Pole positions: 65 | |
| Front row starts: 8 | Front row starts: 87 | |
| Fastest laps: 8 | Fastest laps: 19 | |
| Points: 107 | Points: 610 | |
| Total GP laps: 3 282 | Total GP laps: 8 219 | |
| Total GP Kms: 15 196 | Total GP Kms: 37 933 | |
| GPs in the lead: 18 | GPs in the lead: 86 | |
| Times in the lead: 22 | Times in the lead: 107 | |
| Laps in the lead: 499 | Laps in the lead: 2954 | |
| Kms in the lead: 2 048.397 | Kms in the lead: 13 524.623 | |
| First Grand Prix: 1977 British GP | First Grand Prix: 1984 Brazilian GP |
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| First championship point: 1978 Belgian GP | First championship point: 1984 South African GP | |
| First win: 1978 Canadian GP | First win: 1985 Portuguese GP | |
| Last win: 1981 Spanish GP | Last win: 1993 Australian GP | |
| Last Grand Prix start: 1982 San Marino GP |
Last Grand Prix start: 1994 San Marino GP |
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Gilles Villeneuve Museum (in French, Spanish, Italian); Virtual Museum (in English French, Italian) Tribute to Gilles Villeneuve (unofficial site which includes criticism of CBC TV's special news flashback, on the 14th anniversary of Gilles Villeneuve's death) - Ventisetterosso (beautiful site in tribute to Villeneuve, in Italian and in English, the name of the site inspired by Gilles' Ferrari, number 27). A World Celebrity – very interesting 1975 CBC TV interview with Gilles Villeneuve. Canada seems to have just realized, at that time, that they had a world celebrity. So they are curious to know about Joseph Gilles Henri Villeneuve, who is asked a wide variety of questions: about his career, his life, his family, F1, and more. We can hear Gilles Villeneuve talk about Jacques, whom he tells was eight years old, then, and add that, if Jacques wanted to be a race driver, he would be very happy for it. On the CBC TV news (May 9, 1982), Canada in shock at Gilles Villeneuve's death (the news include interviews with his father and a few people who used to know Gilles, in his home town). Death of a Legend – CBC Radio news announcing Gilles Villeneuve's death to Canadians. Adieu, Gilles – CBC TV's memories of Canada bidding Gilles Villeneuve goodbye (May 12, 1982). A breathtaking wheel to wheel battle made the 56th French GP (1979) truly memorable: Gilles Villeneuve and René Arnoux relentlessly battle each other for over two laps, all the way to the final flag, in a most exciting fashion! The Canadian took second place in his Ferrari, a mere 24⁄100ths ahead of a then much superior turbo-charged Renault, driven by the Frenchman. (That Grand Prix was won by Jean Pierre Jabouille, in the other Renault car.) That same memorable battle staged by G.Villeneuve and Arnoux, in France, 1979, can alternatively be witnessed at this link. Or it can be downloaded in an .AVI file. (Should this file not play on your installed Media Player, you just need to download the VLC media player and the clip will play. Brief information on this free software is available on the External Links page.) The above described unforgettable battle was of course also reported on the CBC Radio, along with an interview with Gilles Villeneuve. Additionally, other Gilles Villeneuve recorded memories, including interviews, are amid the CBC Radio archives, all of which are free to access. In Niki Lauda's words, Gilles Villeneuve was the perfect racing driver [...] with the best talent of all of us. Whereas in Jody Scheckter's, in a moving address at Gilles' funeral, [...] he has not gone. The memory of what he has done, what he achieved, will always be there. Yes, true words. Jody Scheckter, who had been Gilles Villeneuve's team-mate, also shared on that day: I will miss Gilles for two reasons. First, he was the fastest driver in the history of motor racing. Second, he was the most genuine man I have ever known. Gilles Villeneuve sadly did not live long enough to take the F1 World crown, though very few doubt he would have, had he continued competing. But like Sir Stirling Moss and Jackie Ickx, who likewise ended up not winning an F1 Championship, Gilles' name will always figure among the greatest F1 drivers of all times, and will always be uttered with the same respect as those names figuring on the list of F1 Champions. Gilles Villeneuve related quotes at Wikiquote & Wikipedia. See the F1 Quotes pages, too. |
Ayrton Senna Memorial - Institute - Brazilian site (in Portuguese, only–though announced as Ayrton's official site, it is a site on Ayrton, rather than offering content by Ayrton) - Unofficial Virtual Museum (Japan) - The Senna Files Senna's brief biography Tribute to Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna memorial Senna, the greatest A Tribute to Senna by J.Morelli are among many other tributes to the unforgettable Ayrton Senna da Silva. Ayrton Senna interviewed by Jackie Stewart. So many other Senna memories can be found on-line. Among these, you may experience going on board, with him, for pole, or recall a curious incident (a row that Senna once gave a young Michael Schumacher for reckless driving), or be reminded that this exceptional driver conquered the status and respect he will always enjoy, by working hard and not bending at adversity. For example, when the McLaren team had clearly started to decline, after having lost its Honda power, Ayrton found himself without a car in which his usual determination and speed would suffice: he battled both Alain Prost and Michael Schumacher to the limit, finally to be overtaken by each. Senna's last lap at Imola can be viewed at this link. At Paul's web site, you can briefly recall the highlights of Senna's career, as well as read an informative summary, which also includes the investigation & trial carried out in the aftermath of Senna's tragic accident. At Senna's memorial service, in São Paulo, an estimated crowd of one million lined the streets to give him their salute. Quite different from the current F1 days, when it has been long since an F1 Champion and his team-mate would battle each other relentlessly, Senna's rivalry with team-mate Alain Prost marked a remarkable F1 era. You can download some breathtaking battles of the legendary Senna-Prost rivalry, which reached its peak in 1989.. Prost's merits are incontestable, as were Senna's. Their 1989 Season, in which both drivers were always near each other (as usual), illustrates how closely these two really fought: Prost became the crowned Champion, even though Senna had more wins. In fact, the Frenchman did not manage to beat Senna in the races that his Brazilian team-mate drove to the final flag, throughout that year–Senna had 6 DNF's, in 1989, 3 by crashing out, 3 due to mechanical failure, in the largest majority of which, he had likewise been ahead of team-mate Prost, when retiring. Bare numbers, deprived of their actual contexts, evidently fail to retell stories accurately. For example, in six years at McLaren, Prost collected 10 poles & 29 wins, versus Senna's 45 poles & 34 wins, in as many years. In truth, Senna & Prost were very different drivers–as today Kimi Räikkönen & Fernando Alonso also are, should an approximate analogy be helpful. The fact that Senna had twice as many poles as Prost, in all, but Prost twice as many fastest race laps as Senna, in all, may be helpful in evoking the sharply contrasting styles involved in that memorable rivalry, in which both drivers nurtured a ton of respect for each other. In 1984, before conquering his fame and reputation, the then rookie Senna astonished the F1 world with a truly memorable drive, on a drenched Monaco track. No one doubts that Senna would have taken his first F1 victory then (over his future rival, Alain Prost, albeit Senna's then driving an inferior car)...were it not for Jackie Ickx, the race director, to call the race off, responding to Prost's many desperate gestures appealing for the race to be red-flagged on account of the weather (treacherous from the start), as a young Ayrton Senna, drawing nearer and nearer, was at the verge of snatching that victory from Prost's hands. Ayrton Senna related media at Wikimedia & related quotes at Wikiquote. See the F1 Quotes pages, too. |
It is prudent to remark that the above should by no means be read as any attempt at comparison. 
For fairness is anyway unattainable, should one attempt at measuring and comparing. After all, racing, talent, and life, itself, none unfold in digital (thus measurable) fashion. It is likewise prudent to remark on our human tendency to surround the memories of those who have parted, with a romantic or specially rose-colored, or even starry-eyed aura. So, when those who are gone are recalled alongside those who are thankfully still among us, a dose of impartiality would of course be desirable, as well. On the other hand, whatever constitutes present experience tends to make a stronger impression than that which is absent from current experience. Another dose of impartiality would thus be likewise desirable, in such cases. All in all, the human mind is prone to variety of possible cognitive traps, or cognitive illusions. Whatever effort to avoid these reverts in better savoring that which may be under consideration. 
Michael Schumacher is the driver we currently experience whose outstanding talent most inspires reverence and is difficult to overstate. Yet, his star cannot outshine all others, despite the impressive numbers that he has managed to add to his name. For he belongs within an impressive constellation–the F1 constellation–each star of which is truly unique. 
Take Gilles Villeneuve, for example, the Canadian representing a singular type of driver, determination, and driving style, these evidently differing from M.Schumacher's own unique characteristics. Each member of this respectable F1 constellation has his own singular traits, which can only be fully meaningful against the very background provided by each individual set of contextual traits and circumstances. Gilles Villeneuve's style of always giving it his all, a trait he will always be remembered for, is promptly evoked in both Zandvoort (1979 Netherlands GP) and Montreal (1981 Canada GP). That little man from Berthierville (as Gilles was at times affectionately referred to) rendered these two GP's truly memorable, and never to be forgotten by anyone who had the privilege to witness G.Villeneuve add new meaning to the terms Grand Prix driving. (A brief reference to G.Villeneuve's unparalleled performances in these GP's is available on MieNet).
As mentioned above, numbers tell little, when appreciated out of context. By the same token, the old question "who was better, Senna or Prost?," or, more recently, "M.Schumacher or Senna?," or, "M.Schumacher or Fangio?," these can never really be answered, since the contexts involved are incommensurable. F1 is rich for its prized legends, who live forever in the fans' hearts and memories; whereas whatever attempts at quantifying or comparing fail to do these drivers justice, and often render their images less vivid. 
Another example can be found in Senna's ample domination of the Monaco GP. This earned the Brazilian Graham Hill's noble title of Mr. Monaco, constituting Senna's own trait. Like G.Hill, Senna has been eternalized as the man who tamed the Monte-Carlo track–in fact, ever since that drenched 1984 Grand Prix (see above), Ayrton Senna's name became specially connected to the Monaco GP. To this day, the Brazilian champion not only holds the record of wins, but also of pole positions, in Monaco (six and five, respectively). On the other hand, independently of M.Schumacher's seeming voracity for records, any ambition to be likewise entitled Mr. Monaco would by now be an achievement past the great German Champion, after his over 230 Grand Prix starts, by 2006, against Senna's mere 162. After the many M.Schumacher's years of total dominance–both within his Team and in F1–a comfortable privilege that Senna never enjoyed, Senna still has the edge in Monaco. Senna is the Monaco man, as G.Hill was in his days, both drivers' names forever entwined with the very mystique of the glamorous Grand Prix of Monaco. This, in contrast, is not a trait that M.Schumacher should be particularly remembered for, once he retires, even if he still manages to match Senna's numbers in Monaco, as he has done with G.Hill's five Monaco wins–though there of course will be plenty memories and records to be evoked, when the day comes that the seven-time champion retires from racing. Gilles Villeneuve, it should be added, had a specially memorable Grand Prix at Monaco (1981), in which he wrestled a nearly unmanageable Ferrari to victory. As already remarked, a relativistic approach helps render details and statistics fully meaningful. So, M.Schumacher's recently matching and beating Senna's pole record, to take one more example, becomes more meaningful as it is appreciated within the context of M.Schumacher's over 230 Grand Prix starts, versus Senna's 162. Regardless of what numbers may seem to indicate, whatever intent of comparison is usually handicapped. In the case of the above example, a special contextual detail emerges, in addition: unlike most F1 champions, Michael Schumacher has enjoyed the rare convenience of clearly having first driver status and privileges in both his teams. In contrast, Senna, Prost, Piquet, Lauda, Mansell, Häkkinen, to cite some of the recent bright F1 stars, all had fierce competition right from within the team, in addition to one or more special rival(s) from other teams. Like Michael Schumacher, whose humanitarian-motivated cash donations have widely been reported in the international press, Ayrton Senna, too, was moved by humanitarian causes: though Senna had managed to keep it secret throughout his racing years, after the Brazilian's death it was discovered that he had donated millions of US dollars to children's charities. Gilles Villeneuve, in turn, would not have cashed sufficiently in prizes, wages, advertisements, etc., to have been able to express his sensitive and lovable character in a like fashion. |
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| The Ayrton Senna Institute, located in São Paulo but with headquarters in London, has been applying the funds raised with the image of Brazil's greatest race driver in support of educational projects for disadvantaged children, since the Institute's foundation in 1994. (See, on-line, article published by The Times of London on the Senna brand and the Ayrton Senna Institute.) |
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| The number of those in need increasing day by day, as the World population soars, it is pertinent to mention that Senna's compatriot & friend, Rubens Barrichello, has a charity institution which he started with racing fellow compatriot and 2004 IRL Champion Tony Kanaan: it is the Barrichello Kanaan Institute (reference in English). |
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Ayrton Senna's concern for others, perhaps in sharp contrast with his well-known unrelenting pursue of victories, emerged yet stronger than his firm will to win, along his F1 racing years. Twice, at Spa-Francorchamps, Senna was the only driver seen to stop his car, jump out, and sprint towards a wrecked car, in order to aid an injured fellow driver. In 1992, when Erik Comas had crashed heavily on the back straight, Senna promptly cut off the electricity in Comas' wrecked car, so as to prevent a fire; whereas in 1993, it was Alessandro Zanardi who had crashed heavily at the famous Eau Rouge corner, Senna likewise stopping his car and rushing to Zanardi's aid. During the pre-season 1994, Ayrton Senna made an uncanny comment: It's going to be a season with lots of accidents, and I'll risk saying that we'll be lucky if something really serious doesn't happen. 
| I have never got out of a car and said I could have tried harder. | Racing, competing, is in my blood. It's part of me. | |
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| 1950 1982 |
1960 1994 |
Gilles Villeneuve's last Grand Prix weekend was in Zolder (Belgian GP), where he had his fatal accident at qualifying. He therefore did not line up for the Belgian Grand Prix, his last actual race having been in Imola, where the previous GP weekend took place. On the Imola track, G.Villeneuve was going to take victory, were it not for his Ferrari team-mate, Didier Pironi, ignoring team orders and overtaking the Canadian, who of course was furious, despite his usual amiable nature. In curious anticipation of the rivalry that would later develop, the winner of Ayrton Senna's first F1 Grand Prix–the 1984 Brazilian Grand Prix–was no one other than Alain Prost, who also set the fastest race lap.
In memory of two remarkable, unforgettable F1 drivers 
See the 2006 F1 Grand Prix Calendar See the 2006 Grand Prix Reports
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