A better Senna film?

A better Senna film?

Sir,

As you might expect, I was thrilled at the prospect of watching the much-feted film Senna and was fortunate enough to attend a press screening before the UK official release date. Perhaps my expectations were a little unrealistic, but I left the film feeling that it had not eclipsed every other Senna documentary in quite the way that I would have hoped.

There is no denying that it is a fantastic film, with some unbelievable footage that I had never seen before (notably the fiery driver briefings with Balestre, and Senna reacting to on track events in the pits at Imola in 1994), and it does a brilliant job of engaging audiences with no previous interest in motor racing.

However, for a hardened Fl and Senna fan such as myself, the 1995 BBC documentary fronted by Steve Rider is still the best-ever Senna film: the incredibly evocative opening sequence with a camera panning around a deserted track at Imola but with the sound of Fl cars tearing away at the start of the Grand Prix; the hilarious commentary by Gerhard Berger; Murray Walker’s “if there’s one lap I’ll take to my grave”; the fascinating views of Martin Brundle and Stirling Moss; amusing anecdotes from Senna’s time in Formula Ford… Although I haven’t watched it for years it remains, for me, unquestionably the most complete and moving tribute to Ayrton Senna. Sebastien Bamsey, Wandsworth Common, London