Should Ayrton Senna be regarded as the best ever?

[rfs]

These days I've been seeing a lot of stuff on F1 sites about the new Senna movie. And it got me thinking whether Senna deserved to be revered as the very greatest ever like the movie implies.

For one, Senna won each his titles in one of, if not the best car. If he was truly a superhuman driver, surely he could have won a couple of championships while he was at Lotus or Toleman, right? Of course not, because the car has almost always mattered more than the driver in F1. Senna knew this, hence his offer to drive for Williams for free in 1993.

Also, some say Senna blew away Prost while he they were teammates at Mclaren. But they won one world title apiece in the two years they were together. Wouldn't that make them even?

Lastly, he scored a handful of astonishing wins in his career, but most of his victories were start-to-finish wins, and usually from pole. I wasn't around in 1988-1990, so I downloaded/streamed some of these wins to see myself. And they really weren't that much different to watching anyone else lead a whole race.

Of course, he fully deserves to be regarded as one of the best ever, but not head and shoulders above Schumacher, Prost etc. Are people just enamoured with his all-or-nothing attitude? What do you think?

[GTSpeedster]

Absolutely true! However, Senna was charismatic as hell (or Jesus if you will...) while Prost and Schumacher, well... Prost is french and Schumacher is german, so there is no point in arguing who's the best. Facts? What are those for anyway?!

[Robbobnob]

I think it was more his presence that he had which made him special along with his out and out raw pace.

Being in the right car has always been the form guide, it gives you your respective place on the grid. there are few drivers who are then capable of delivering 150% of the cars potential and put it further up the grid, and this was where senna was great. (notably Alonso is also one of these drivers, highlighted by his 2009 season). San Marino 94, he put the Williams on pole, even with its unpredictable cornering, ahead of Schumacher's far superior Benetton, proving his talent.

as far as Prost vs Senna at mclaren, Suzuka 89. the controversial ruling that day cost Senna his chance at fighting for that world championship in the last race.

And i think all you need to do is Understand how Schumacher and Prost regard Senna to understand how truly great he was. Maybe not leagues ahead of Schumacher or Prost but certainly equal to

[Enrage]

I consider Senna to be the fastest driver of all time, which does not necessarily mean the best or the most successful.

[rfs]

I consider Senna to be the fastest driver of all time, which does not necessarily mean the best or the most successful.

He was fastest of his era but of all time? Faster than Fangio or Clark? Or Vettel and Hamilton today? There's no way we could know.

[Enrage]

I consider Senna to be the fastest driver of all time, which does not necessarily mean the best or the most successful.

He was fastest of his era but of all time? Faster than Fangio or Clark? Or Vettel and Hamilton today? There's no way we could know.

I know. That's why I said, "I consider". That means I'm clearly stating my opinion, rather than fact.

[Mr Alcatraz]

Yes, definitely one of!
There are guys like Clark, Schumacher, Fangio, as well as others that are not fair to compare because they raced in different eras different and machinery.
To consider Senna the best is a legit opinion, still only an informed opinion.

[HampusA]

3 things, 2 were at Monaco.

1. Toleman car at Monaco. Would have passed Prost no doubt in an inferior car.
2. Out qualified his team mate Prost by a whooping one and a half second with exactly the same car.
3. Rain Master

even though the guy had close fights with Prost he was the quickest driver F1 has ever seen.

[timbo]

1. Toleman car at Monaco. Would have passed Prost no doubt in an inferior car.

But then Beloff in Tyrrell was catching both.

As for the thread theme — he became legend. As for his driving skills — his car control is beyond most humans can achieve. When you look his onboard vids there is shocking difference between how smooth his car looks on the outside and what he is doing at the wheel.

[sesku]

I think he famous because he dead. if he still alive today, nothing much to talk about him.

[raymondu999]

I honestly don't think this topic should be up for debate; as that's all it ever will be. Not a chance in hell you will ever get a unanimous vote on this; or even anywhere close.

[beelsebob]

I honestly don't think this topic should be up for debate; as that's all it ever will be. Not a chance in hell you will ever get a unanimous vote on this; or even anywhere close.

Getting unanimous agreement isn't the only point of a discussion. I personally am interested in what people think makes a driver great. We see from the fanboy thread that wet weather racing is one of the things that seems to really qualify you as a great. Senna certainly had that – but on the other hand, that was quickly forgotten when the "regenmeister" came on the scene.

[raymondu999]

to be fair, it is in no way fair to really compare Schumi and Senna. I think the two never really battled each other when they were both at their prime; much less so in the rain.

[Muulka]

I think he famous because he dead. if he still alive today, nothing much to talk about him.

You, my friend, have hit the nail right on the head.

[MrBlacky]

In '94 Schumacher constantly have beaten Senna until his crash. And as far as I remember Schumacher had a really crap car '93 and '94