Automakers Honda have released a short film called ‘Ignition’, featuring their Formula One driver, former World Champion Jenson Button.
Fans of Formula One will find a special homage to a motorsport legend in the video – it features the voice of Ayrton Senna!
The Brazilian legend, whose name is synonymous with the sport, is regarded by many as the greatest F1 driver of all time. Senna, who won 3 world championships in his Formula One career, had 41 wins and 80 podiums over his 10-year racing career.
Tragically, his career, which still had plenty of miles on it, was brought to a premature close at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy when Senna’s Williams suffered a steering column failure, sending him crashing into the wall. He would offiically pass away of his injuries a few hours later, and his death followed that of Roland Ratzenberger, who had crashed and died at Imola only a day prior.
Senna’s driving style was marked by aggression, with the driver often regarded as incredibly talented, but also reckless. He was a genius in any weather, but a master of wet weather, Senna’s rain-soaked races were a joy to behold as he plowed through with minimal visibility, or as he put it “cannot see 5 centimetres in front of my face!” through the track, managing to overtake everyone in his path.
McLaren-Honda are themselves having quite a bad season, with the team’s first points coming 6 races into the seaon as Button finished 8th in Monaco. Both Button and his teammate, double world champion Fernando Alonso, have had several retirements this year – 5 to Alonso and 4 to Button, with constant engine and power unit issues.
At qualifying for the recently concluded Hungarian Grand Prix, Alonso lost power in his vehicle and had to push it down the track assisted by race marshals. The race was a turnaround for him however. McLaren recorded their highest ever finish this season, with Alonso ending the Hungarian GP in 5th.
You can hear Senna’s voice around the 0:43 mark.
