New car from Toro Rosso that, from 2020, adopted the name Alpha Tauri – Credits: Red Bull Content Pool
First of all, in fact, Ayrton Senna died on May 1, 1994 on the seventh lap of the San Marino Grand Prix, at the Imola circuit (Italy). It was precisely on the day of his death that this story of coincidences began that made him – some believe – help to drive or, at least, push a car on the last lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix, in Interlagos, on December 17th. of 2019.
Since the misfortune of Senna's death, Honda hasn't won anything important in F1. In fact, the last great moment for the Japanese engine supplier was with McLaren alongside the Brazilian driver in the penultimate race of the 1992 season who, heroically, won the Portuguese GP, holding Nigel Mansell's Williams-Renault, who had been “eating” the track with each turn it took.
Red Bull-Honda continues the partnership in 2020 – Credits: Red Bull Content Pool
Honda stopped supplying engines in 1993, displeasing Senna who had to settle for weak Ford prototypes.
In 1994, he left the British team for the competitive Williams-Renault. Honda maintained a timid partnership with several other teams through Mugen Motorsports. After several withdrawals and failures, in 2015, the Japanese decided to return very seriously to F-1 together with McLaren, but without the same brilliance of the times of synergy with Senna.
The poor performance of its engines led to humiliating criticism and the British team canceled the contract with Honda.
From then on, the Japanese decided to focus on the partnership with two other teams: the very strong Red Bull and the small Toro Rosso.
After consecutive setbacks and frustrated years, the 2019 season began.
From the second half onwards, Honda had already outdone itself along with Red Bull by winning two victories, one in Austria and the other in Germany.
It was the best moment for the Japanese since the days of Ayrton Senna. Then came the Brazilian GP, on December 17, 2019 and the history of F-1 gained a special page. Max Verstappen of Red Bull-Honda dominated Interlagos and secured his third victory of the season.
The incredible thing was that, after a series of circumstances, second place fell into the hands of Toro Rosso-Honda driver Pierre Gasly. Before the arrival flag, he had the mission to hold, on the last lap, the six-time champion Lewis Hamilton – with a much better car and engine – who was following the Frenchman. Inexplicably, on the way up the hill from the pits, when the Englishman was side by side, Toro Rosso de Gasly emerged, almost a car ahead, which guaranteed him the second position, much celebrated by all of the Italian team.
Soichiro Honda and Ayrton Senna: coincidences – Credits: Reproduction
There was much speculation as to why the Toro Rosso-Honda performed better than the McLaren-Renault. One of several hypotheses was that Lewis Hamilton would have simply slowed down at the end. He would later deny it. Another assumption – more technical – was that Hamilton's car, in previous laps, when colliding with the Thai Alexander Albon, Gasly's companion, would have compromised its performance.
No one has officially commented on the case. For Honda, it was a succession of incredible coincidences, which made the engine supplier publish the following message on social networks:
“Thanks for the extra push up the hill, champ. We hope you and the birthday boy enjoyed the show. The Honda team stopped by to pay our respects after a memorable weekend in Brazil. Thanks Senna.”
In addition to the virtual message, members of Honda paid another tribute: they left flowers and a photo of Gasly and Verstappen on the podium at Interlagos next to Ayrton Senna's tomb.
December 17, 2019 was also the birthday of Soichiro Honda, founder of Honda and who never tired of praising Ayrton Senna.
Did you like the article? You can see more articles of this type in our Car Portal
Eder is a veteran journalist and teacher in Japan
© 2019 - Ooizine Japan Guide. All rights reserved
This is another website made with care by Go Digital Japan Agency
Choose your language
