Forty Years On, Chris Dinnage Remembers the Day Senna Proved Himself as the Greatest of All Time

Forty years ago, on a rain-soaked day in Estoril, Portugal, Ayrton Senna delivered a masterclass performance that would become one of the defining moments of his extraordinary career. The 25-year-old Brazilian driver, driving for Lotus, produced a drive that still stands as one of the finest of his career, and it’s a testament to his exceptional talent and dedication to the sport.

According to Chris Dinnage, Senna’s No. 1 mechanic at the time, Senna’s performance was nothing short of phenomenal. “He was totally in tune with everything,” Dinnage recalls. “I’ve never worked with another driver like him at all. He was so precise that if he found a spot on the circuit which was particularly slippery then he would just avoid it on the next lap.”

The conditions on that day were treacherous, with relentless rain and poor visibility making it a survival-of-the-fittest scenario. But Senna, who had already taken pole position by four-tenths of a second from McLaren’s Alain Prost, was unfazed. As the black and gold Lotus shot off the line into the gloom, it quickly became clear that he was on a different plane. By the end of the opening lap, he had a 2.7-second lead over his teammate Elio de Angelis, and by lap 10, he had increased his lead to 13 seconds.

The carnage continued in his wake, with Jacques Laffite, Keke Rosberg, and even Alain Prost struggling to cope with the conditions. Laffite, driving for Ligier, retired after 15 laps, declaring the conditions unacceptable. Rosberg, the former world champion, crashed out at the final corner on the 16th lap, and Prost, who had been running second, aquaplaned rear-first into the barriers at 180mph on lap 30.

But Senna remained in control, his ability to drive a racing car as fast as anyone else on the grid, yet still be aware of his surroundings, a hallmark of his exceptional talent. Dinnage believes that Senna’s performance that day was indicative of his ability to operate at a different level to his rivals. “The thing with Ayrton was he had an ability to drive a racing car as fast if not faster than anybody else on the grid but he only used 50% of his capacity to do so,” he says. “So he had another 50% to be aware of his surroundings, the track conditions, how far away he was, he was just totally in control.”

Senna’s victory was his first of 41 in F1, and it was a significant moment for the Lotus team, who had not won a Grand Prix since the death of their founder Colin Chapman in 1982. Dinnage, who had joined the team in 1982 and would go on to manage Classic Team Lotus, was proud to have been a part of that moment.

As the years have passed, Senna’s reputation as one of the greatest drivers of all time has only grown. Dinnage remains convinced that Senna would have taken the title that season but for the reliability problems that plagued the car. “He was the most complete racing driver of all time,” Dinnage says in a final reflection on his former Lotus charge. “He had the speed, the skill, and the intelligence to win, and he was always willing to push himself to the limit.”

Senna’s performance that day in Estoril was also notable for the way he connected with his team. “He made friends with all the crew, so he had everybody on side,” Dinnage recalls. “So everybody liked him. When you like somebody you’re far more likely to engage and do everything you possibly can for them, unlike some of the drivers who barely say hello in the morning.”

The memory of that rain-soaked day in Estoril, 40 years ago, remains a testament to Senna’s exceptional talent and dedication to the sport. “It’s a special moment, and the last time it would happen,” Dinnage recalls. “When Senna crossed the line, the Lotus crew couldn’t contain themselves, climbing the pit wall and celebrating on the track. I was leaping in the air, barely feet from Senna’s car. A moment that I will never forget.”

In the years that followed, Senna would go on to win numerous championships and become a beloved figure in the world of motorsport. But that rain-soaked day in Estoril remains a special moment, one that showcases his exceptional talent and dedication to the sport.