Former Ferrari staff principal Jean Todt has revealed the numerous obstacles that prevented Ayrton Senna from signing with Ferrari within the early Nineties.
When Lewis Hamilton signed with Ferrari forward of the 2024 season, a yr earlier than his eventual transfer from Mercedes, it grew to become the most important story in world sport past simply motorsport.
This information would have generated precisely the identical stage of hype if Todd had meant to cancel the contracts of Gerhard Berger or Jean Alesi for the 1994 season.
converse at excessive efficiency podcastTodt stated: “The primary dream driver I talked to[with Ferrari]was Ayrton Senna.
“He got here to my room and we spent the evening collectively to speak about becoming a member of Ferrari, and he wished to return. However he got here in 1994. In ’94 we had already signed Gerhard Berger and Jean Alesi.”
“So I stated to him that ’94 wouldn’t be potential. To start with, we aren’t prepared but, and there are contracts. He answered me: “Contracts do not matter in F1.” I stated: “Contracts are essential to me.”
This precept is kind of uncommon in F1, particularly in trendy occasions, the place launch clauses at the moment are commonplace and drivers usually attempt to succeed to drive a switch regardless of what’s written into the deal.
Earlier than his fateful transfer to Williams for the 1994 season, Senna raced for McLaren, the staff with which he was most related and with whom he received all three world titles.
The transfer may have occurred a season earlier if Honda had withdrawn from F1, however a “no Senna” clause in Alain Prost’s Williams contract prevented that risk, even when the Brazilian supplied a free race to keep away from the problem.
Todd added: “I heard there was contact earlier than me, however I can not converse to that. With me, the top of the F1 staff, there was dialogue in September 1993 of him arriving in ’95 and he wished to reach in ’94. That is why he went to Williams.”
