Indian Moviestar And Race Car Driver Ajith Kumar Pays Respect To Late F1 Legend Ayrton Senna [Video]
Actor Ajith Kumar is as much known for his interest in cars and racing, as he is for his acting career. The actor has competed in various racing championships, including the Formula Asia BMW Championships and Formula 2 Championship. After a notable hiatus, he made a return to the sport in 2025, and now owns a racing team called Ajith Kumar Racing. The team even earned the "Spirit of the Race" award in the GT4 category. Now, Ajith has shared images and videos of himself paying tribute to the legendary driver Ayrton Senna at the Tumberello corner in Imola Circuit...
The Tamil actor shared a carousal of three videos on his Instagram handle, which show him at Senna's memorial at the Tumberello corner. Senna's Williams FW16 crashed here, eventually bringing him death, in 1994. Today, this corner has a 'Senna memorial'. It has the statue of a disappointed Senna seated. People come here to pay respects to the all-time legend.
In the videos shared, we see Ajith Kumar kneeling down before the statue, praying for the late driver's soul, and even smooching its foot. The Brazilian Formula 1 champion is an icon to many. Even today, kids who are into racing, start reading and hearing about him from a very young age. Back in the day, Senna's funeral was attended by a reported three million people!
Ayrton Senna- The Legend
Senna was born into a wealthy Brazilian family on March 21, 1960. He had a privileged upbringing. As years passed by, Senna found himself getting hooked to racing. His passion for the sport began from the miniature go-kart that his father had gifted him when he was four. At 13, he raced his first kart and, sweeter yet, won!
Eight years down the line, he raced a single-seater in Britain. In the years that followed, Senna won five championships. He shifted his focus from taking over his father's business to building a full-blown Formula 1 racing career. His F1 debut was with Toleman in 1984. He ranked second at Monaco, in torrential rain, next to just Alain Prost's McLaren, rising to fame instantly. This podium was spectacular, as Toleman had much less resources compared to McLaren, back then.
Senna moved to Lotus in 1985 and won six races and as many as 16 pole starts, all in three seasons! The legendary driver signed up with McLaren in 1988 and raced with them for six seasons, amassing 35 race and three world championship wins.
Senna's first driving title came after he beat his teammate Alain Prost eight wins to seven, in 1988. This also marked the beginning of another famed feud in the history of racing. Prost and Senna duelled with each other in the races that followed. In 1989, Prost took Senna out at the Suzuka chicane. Next year, Senna took his revenge by taking out Prost at Suzuka's first corner. Senna's domination as a driver grew over the years, so did his obsession with pushing his own limits and becoming better at the sport. His final year with McLaren saw Senna in what could probably have been his best form.
Some say Senna drove like a mad man (and it is hard to disagree). He cared more about winning and less about living. He even made a confession once that 'he sometimes went too far'. In the 1988 Monaco GP, he pumped up his speed so much that he was a good two seconds ahead of Prost who was driving an identical McLaren. "Suddenly, it frightened me, because I realised I was well beyond my conscious understanding. I drove back slowly to the pits and did not go out anymore that day." said Senna, recollecting the incident.
He then moved to Williams for the 1994 season, which however, had terrible plans for him. On May 1, he was out in the Imola circuit with his Williams FW16. He was leading when the Williams speared off and hit the concrete wall at Tamburello corner, killing its driver...