On This Day

Sunday 7th November 1993

26 years ago

Three-time World Champion Ayrton Senna earned his final victory in Formula 1 with a win at the Australian Grand Prix at Adelaide. His career ended with 80 Formula 1 victories when he was killed in an accident while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Senna has often been voted as the best and most influential Formula One driver of all time in various motorsport polls. He was recognised for his qualifying speed over one lap and from 1989 until 2006 held the record for most pole positions. He was also acclaimed for his wet weather performances, such as the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix, the 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix, and the 1993 European Grand Prix. He holds a record six victories at the Monaco Grand Prix, and is the fifth-most successful driver of all time in terms of race wins. Senna courted controversy throughout his career, particularly during his turbulent rivalry with Prost. In the Japanese Grands Prix of 1989 and 1990, each of which decided the championship of that year, collisions between Senna and Prost determined the eventual winner.