It’s been 30 years since the greatest Brazilian Formula 1 driver of all time, Ayrton Senna, died in a racing accident. The limited series Senna, out now, stars Gabriel Leone as the young driver who captured the attention of F1’s best and brightest — and, later, the entire world.
The six-episode drama chronicles Senna’s racing career, during which he ultimately claimed three world championships, as well as his life and relationships, and his lasting legacy that has brought significant change to the ultra-dangerous sport.
Below, see Leone in character as Senna on the racetrack holding the driver’s trademark green and yellow helmet, plus his co-stars in character as some of the important figures in the legend’s life. You can also watch an in-depth featurette about the new series, a must-watch for fans of the docuseries Formula 1: Drive to Survive.
The six-episode series showcases Senna’s journey of triumphs, disappointments, joys, and sorrows, unveiling his personality and personal relationships. It begins with the start of the three-time Formula 1 champion’s motor racing career, when he moves to England to compete in Formula Ford, and continues up until his fatal accident in Imola, Italy, during the San Marino Grand Prix.
The first-look photos and teaser feature Leone as Senna; Pâmela Tomé as his TV star girlfriend, Xuxa; Matt Mella as rival driver Alain Prost; Patrick Kennedy as McLaren team principal Ron Dennis; and Gabriel Louchard as Brazilian sports announcer Galvão Bueno.
Other cast members starring as real-life figures in the series include Alice Wegmann (Lilian de Vasconcelos, Senna’s first wife), Camila Márdila (Viviane Senna, his sister), Christian Malheiros (Maurinho, his friend), Hugo Bonemer (Nelson Piquet), Julia Foti (Adriane Galisteu), Marco Ricca (“Miltão” Senna, his father), and Susana Ribeiro (Neide “Zaza” Senna, his mother), plus an international cast including Kaya Scodelario (a fictional journalist, Laura), Arnaud Viard (Jean-Marie Balestre), Joe Hurst (Keith Sutton), Johannes Heinrichs (Niki Lauda), Keisuke Hoashi (Osamu Goto), Leon Ockenden (James Hunt), Richard Clothier (Peter Warr), Steven Mackintosh (Frank Williams), and Tom Mannion (Sid Watkins), among others.
Showrunner Vicente Amorim is also co-director with Júlia Rezende, while Gustavo Bragança is head writer and Fabiano Gullane and Caio Gullane are producers. The series was created in partnership with the driver’s family.
Yes, Senna is based on the life of famed F1 driver Ayrton Senna, widely considered to be the fastest driver of all time. The Brazilian driver won three F1 world titles, 41 victories, 65 pole positions, and 80 podiums between 1984 and 1994.
Senna is available now on Netflix.
