The Mystery Behind Ayrton Senna’s Death: Did His Steering Column Fail Before or After the Crash? 

Ayrton Senna’s fatal crash at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix shocked fans worldwide, leaving behind a legacy and questions that still haunt Formula 1 today.

Senna, one of the most talented Formula 1 drivers ever, was leading the race. But then, disaster struck. Senna’s car crashed into a concrete barrier at high speed, and he was airlifted to the hospital.

Sadly, he passed away later that day. Senna’s death shocked the world, and still, many questions remain—one of the biggest being: did Senna’s steering column fail before the crash, or did it happen during the impact?

This mystery continues to haunt fans and experts alike. As we approach the release of a new Netflix series about his life, let’s take a closer look at what happened that fateful day, and why Senna’s story is still so important.

When Did Ayrton Senna Die?

May 1, 1994, is a day that no Formula 1 fan will ever forget. That was the day Ayrton Senna tragically lost his life after crashing during the San Marino Grand Prix. But the story actually began the day before, when Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger died in a crash during qualifying. 

Then, just one day later, Senna—one of the sport’s greatest stars—was leading the race when he lost control of his WilliamsFW16 at the Tamburello corner. It was a section of the track that had already been the site of several incidents.

Senna’s car slammed into a concrete barrier at over 200 km/h, and Senna was airlifted to Maggiore Hospital, where doctors fought to save him. But despite their efforts, he was declared dead later that day. The tragic events led to a massive outpouring of grief from fans worldwide. 

Did Ayrton Senna’s Steering Column Fail Before or After the Crash?

According to RN 365, the official investigation revealed that the steering column was not the cause of the crash. In fact, telemetry data from the car showed that Senna was going nearly 309 km/h before entering the corner.

He braked hard, downshifted, and then crashed at a speed of 211 km/h. The crash was severe, and the impact tore apart the car’s front right suspension, causing the wheel to fly into the cockpit and strike Senna’s helmet.

The steering column itself was intact after the crash, so it appears the failure happened after the impact, not before. Unfortunately, the force of the crash, combined with the flying debris and the injury to his head, was fatal. It was a tragic series of events that led to one of the worst accidents in Formula 1 history.

Adrian Newey Revealed Key Details Behind Ayrton Senna’s FW16 Crash

Adrian Newey, the chief designer behind Senna’s Williams FW16, opened up about some pretty significant changes made to the car right before that fateful race.

In his autobiography How to Build a Car (Via Race Fans), Newey revealed more details about the design changes to Senna’s car. Initially, it was suspected that the steering column failure caused the crash, especially since Senna’s column had been modified to improve his driving position.

But when the team reviewed footage from Michael Schumacher’s car—who was right behind Senna—they realized Senna’s car actually lost traction at the rear first, not the front, which would’ve been the case with a steering failure. So, it didn’t seem like the steering column was the direct cause after all.

Ayrton Senna’s Legacy Will be Honored in an Upcoming Netflix Mini-Series

Even though Senna’s life was cut short, his legacy lives on. He’s still remembered as one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1 history. Today, that legacy is being honored in a new Netflix series called Senna.

The show, set to premiere on November 29, 2024, will explore Senna’s life, his rise to fame, and his passion for racing. It will also cover his tragic final weekend at the San Marino Grand Prix. But the show is more than just a recounting of events.

It will explore what made Senna tick—his hunger for victory, his deep connection with his fans, and the intensity he brought to every race. The series will also shed light on the bond Senna shared with his family, and his drive to be the best—not just for himself, but for his country.