Sun, Silverstone, and Senna

After torrential downpour on Friday and Saturday, the clear blue skies that greeted the Formula 1 paddock on race day for the British Grand Prix must have been a welcome sight for most of those gathered at Silverstone in 1993. Not, perhaps, for Ayrton Senna.

The McLaren driver had already stunned British crowds at the European Grand Prix, held at Donington Park three months earlier. That had been under torrential conditions, and a continuation of the Great British weather into race day at Silverstone could have been seen as an advantage for the Brazilian.

Nevertheless, Senna fought as hard as ever during the race. A strong start put him second at the first corner, but he couldn’t stay ahead of Prost or Michael Schumacher for too long. He dropped back to fourth, but was promoted onto the podium when race leader and local favourite Damon Hill’s engine blew.

Senna looked set to finish third, albeit more than a minute behind Prost but, on the final lap, he slowed to a halt. The computer had told the team he had enough fuel for one more lap, but that wasn’t the case. Though he didn’t take the chequered flag, he was classified fifth.