Remembering Ayrton Senna: The hero behind the driver

 Abstract

On the thirtieth anniversary of his tragic loss, this article aims to show what made Ayrton different from the other drivers. His sportsmanship and values were well known in the sport, but one episode set him apart from any other driver and it is linked to the 1992 Belgian Grand Prix and to one name: Erik Comas.

The Prologue

Nestled in the Ardennes Forest, Spa-Francorchamps is revered as one of the most challenging circuits in Formula 1. Its fast, sweeping corners and unpredictable weather conditions present a formidable challenge to even the most experienced drivers. With a rich history dating back to the early 20th century, Spa-Francorchamps has witnessed triumph and tragedy, shaping the history of the sport over the decades.

In Friday's practice, which was crucial at the time as there was also a pre-qualifying session and not every driver would be able to start the race, everyone wanted to push their car as fast as possible to find the perfect balance and get a good lap to put on the timetable.

One of these drivers was Erik Comas, 29 years old and in his first year in F1, driving for Ligier for the 1992 season. After two laps to warm up his tyres, he began to push to find a good time, but towards the end of the lap, just at Blanchimont (a flat-out corner), he found gravel on the asphalt and lost control of his car, which crashed into the outside wall of the track. The crash was huge, and the car bounced back in the middle of the circuit. Immediately after the collision, one detail was clear: Erick's helmet was lying on the side of the car. This was a bad omen and immediately suggested that the driver had lost consciousness.

 

Here comes Ayrton!

Immediately after the crash, just a few corners behind, was Ayrton Senna in his McLaren MP4/7A. As he approached the Blanchimont corner, the marshals were already weaving the yellow flag, so he slowed down and drove close to the crashed car. Any other driver watching this scene would have simply driven past, trying to avoid the debris and return to the pits, but Ayrton was not a conventional driver.

Meanwhile, as he was passing near Comas car, he heard a sound that was unmistakable, an engine screaming at max revs. Senna suddenly realised that Erik was unconscious, and his right foot was stuck on the accelerator. It is easy to understand that an engine running at full throttle is not designed to stand still without some form of cooling, and with oil and fuel leaking from the damaged car, the risk of explosion or fire was high.

At that moment, Ayrton did something that will be remembered forever. He simply parked the car on the right-hand side of the track and stopped it. Through all the dust that surrounded Comas car, a red figure ran towards him, slaloming between the other cars. It was Ayrton, running desperately to save his life.

Senna reached the car and turned off the engine, then supported Erik's head in the belief that this would minimise the consequences until the medical team arrived.

These images speak for themselves and describe how brave and caring Senna was in these circumstances. This was Ayrton, a fierce rival on the track, but in the meantime a symbol of altruism and concern for others.

 

Senna: The hero behind the driver

Every word in this article will never be able to describe the heroism demonstrated by Senna in that situation, and this is the reason why I have decided to show some fragments of the original footage.

He risked his own life, running on a track full of dust and with cars still running (they didn't have all the technology we have today and only flags indicated dangers on the track) to try and save Comas life.

Another detail that needs to be highlighted is the way Ayrton held Erik's helmet while he waited for medical assistance. His behaviour was that of a father to a son, and that was the role he felt he had with the rookies in F1[1].

When Comas recovered from the crash, he stated that: “He[2] turned off the car’s ignition, avoiding an explosion. At that moment, Ayrton Senna saved my life”. It was probably true, and unfortunately Erik was unable to repay Ayrton. In fact, by a strange twist of fate, he was in the car that had the opportunity to stop just behind Senna's crash at Imola in 1994.

Senna's act of courage during the practice sessions for the 1992 Belgian Grand Prix transcended the boundaries of racing and will resonate deeply within the Formula One community and beyond, proving that Senna was much more than one of the greatest drivers of all time, but also a true hero.

Finally, I would like to end this humble tribute to Ayrton with one of his quotes, which is a true reflection of the kind of man he was:

“I'm very privileged. I've always had a very good life. But everything that I've gotten out of life was obtained through dedication and a tremendous desire to achieve my goals... a great desire for victory, meaning victory in life, not as a driver. To all of you who have experienced this or are searching now, let me say that whoever you may be in your life, whether you're at the highest or most modest level, you must show great strength and determination and do everything with love and a deep belief in God. One day, you'll achieve your aim and you'll be successful.”

Obrigado Ayrton!

 

 

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[1] There are several episodes related to this behaviour of Ayrton, but two of them deserve to be mentioned. One was related to the tragic weekend of Imola 1994, when during free practice Rubens Barrichello had a terrible crash (fortunately without any dramatic consequences) and Senna was the first to leave the garage to check Rubens' condition.

The second one was still related to Erik Comas who recently stated: “I remember clearly that when I came to F1, the only driver who came to congratulate me on my success in Formula 3000 in 1991 was Ayrton.”

[2] Comas was talking about Ayrton.