Bruno Senna is not yet an F1 driver but heavyweight sponsors are already lining up to make him the richest non-F1 driver in history. The young Brazilian has just signed a deal with Hilton Hotels to be one of its brand ambassadors. Senna Jnr is in good company: Lewis Hamilton is also a brand ambassador for the chain.
It’s clear Hilton are buying potential here, sticking a flag in Planet Senna before their rivals can claim a piece of him. They are also buying into the Senna name.
Is it presumptuous to think that Senna’s Hilton deal might foretell the Brazilian moving to McLaren next season, to be a test driver? After all, Hilton are one of McLaren’s corporate partners - it’s possible that this deal offers a huge clue that Senna will be McLaren’s test driver in 2009. We’ll see.
And a Senna/Hamilton line-up for 2010 would be a marketing man’s wet dream. Move over Heikki Kovalainen?
No less than five F1 teams are interested in signing GP2 driver Bruno Senna for 2009. They are: Toro Rosso, Honda, Toyota, Williams and BMW Sauber.
Ayrton’s nephew claimed earlier this year that he wasn’t yet ready for F1, but it seems F1 is more than ready to welcome another Senna into its paddock. Think of the publicity his arrival would generate - Wee Bernie Ecclestone must be rubbing his hands at the prospect.
Ayrton Senna’s nephew may graduate to F1 next year
Bruno Senna, the nephew of the late, great Ayrton, is in “intensive talks” with BMW Sauber regarding a test-driver spot in 2009.
Sport Bild claims that the talented young Brazilian, currently competing in GP2, could even replace struggling Nick Heidfeld - we can’t see that happening next year, although Senna’s arrival in F1 is inevitable; think of the huge interest his name alone would generate for the sport.
On-board with the Brazilian legend, Monte Carlo, 1985
Senna took pole at the 1985 Monaco GP in his black-and-gold Lotus. And thanks to the magical powers of YouTube, we can all enjoy this footage of the Brazilian careering around the famous street circuit in qualifying. However, he didn’t make it to the end of the race, retiring after just 13 laps with engine failure. The grand prix was won instead by Alain Prost, Senna’s arch rival. Boo, hiss etc.
BBC report on Senna’s fatal crash at Imola in 1994
It’s almost exactly 14 years ago that Ayrton Senna’s Williams went straight on at Imola’s Curva Tamburello, at 180mph. Any footage regarding the events of 1 May 1994 still send a horrible shiver down the spine. Watch the BBC report of Senna’s death below…
In which Ayrton Senna plays catch-up with a Nissan Concerto and a Porsche Turbo, in a demonstration at Estoril designed to show off just how freakishly quick a Formula 1 car is compared with road cars.
Question: how scared would you be to know that Senna was screaming up behind you in an F1 McLaren?
