Every Detail You Might Have Missed In Netflix's New Ayrton Senna Trailer

As the Formula 1 world commemorates the 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, Netflix released the first trailer for “Senna,” its limited series about the three-time F1 champion. The teaser is less than two minutes long but quickly thrusts viewers into the vivid atmosphere of racing in the 1980s and early 1990s.

While the trailer seems like a rush of lights, sounds and colors with Gabriel Leone saying almost nothing as Ayrton Senna, the video was filled with references and potential plot points for the biopic. Let me walk you through the most prominent nods:

McLaren-Honda and Ron Dennis

The zenith of Ayrton Senna’s career came during his stint with McLaren from 1988 until 1993. During this period, the team famously raced in a white-and-red Marlboro livery, faithfully recreated for the Netflix series. McLaren was already a front-running team when the Brazilian driver arrived there. The team’s success could be largely attributed to team principal Ron Dennis. Dennis, who is portrayed by actor Patrick Kennedy, can be seen briefly in the trailer.

Senna’s Relationship With Xuxa

Senna won’t solely focus on the legend’s on-track exploits but also on his personal relationships. During the trailer, Senna shares an intimate moment with Xuxa, briefly his girlfriend and arguably Brazil’s most famous television personality and pop star during the period. In the series, she will be played by actress Pâmela Tomé.

Senna’s Rivalry With Alain Prost

A piece of media about Ayrton Senna feels incomplete without mentioning his fierce rivalry with teammate and four-time champion Alain Prost. The trailer features Senna in the midst of a heated argument with the Frenchman, telling him to stay on his side of the McLaren garage. I honestly can’t wait to see the feud dramatized for views and turned up to 11.

1991 Brazilian Grand Prix

The trailer itself is set during the 1991 Brazilian Grand Prix, one of Senna’s most memorable victories. Senna managed to secure his long-sought-after maiden home win despite gearbox issues with his McLaren. He had lost third and fifth gears and desperately fought his car to keep his lead ahead of Riccardo Patrese and his Williams FW14, the fledgling computerized monster that would go on to dominate the sport.

Senna’s Karting Days

Ayrton Senna occasionally mentioned how he loved karting because of the absence of paddock politics during the latter part of his F1 career, unlike F1. He also developed his exceptional wet-weather driving skills by karting in the rain on slick tires, something that makes a quick cameo in the trailer.

1984 Monaco Grand Prix

The breakthrough moment of Senna’s F1 career was also in the wet and featured in the trailer. The young Brazilian nearly won the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix as a rookie while racing with Toleman. His future teammate Alain Prost infamously won the race after the event ended early when the weather conditions were declared too dangerous to continue. Senna has passed Prost before the finish line, but the rules state the results must taken from the penultimate lap when a race ends prematurely.

1985 Portuguese Grand Prix

Ayrton Senna’s first F1 victory came the following year in the wet at the 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix. The win is glimpsed in the trailer with Senna driving the black-and-gold Lotus 97T, dancing the car against the limit of traction. “Senna” will be released on Netflix later this year, and I already feel nostalgic for an era of F1 that I wasn’t old enough to remember.

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