Between pain and anger: in the “Stories of Marani” the tragic end of Senna, a death from
It is with a mixture of pain, sadness, anger and melancholy that the vision of the last chapter of Stories by Matteo Marani, which this time shines its light on the tragedy that struck one of the most beloved drivers of all time in Formula 1. Ayrton Senna’s last lap in fact, he returns to that cursed 1st May 1994, to Imola, to the San Marino Grand Prix, to the Tamburello, to that murderous curve that put an end to the earthly life of the Brazilian ace to consecrate him forever among the myths of sport. It takes us back to the events that preceded what the Court of Bologna, after a long series of trials, recognized as manslaughter. Although without convictions.
Let’s review the frightening accident, fortunately without consequences, which occurred to Ruben Barrichello in the tests, and then the death of poor Roland Ratzenberger, victim of an accident, also in the tests, which left him no way out. And then the doubts and bewilderment of the other drivers, Senna’s technical difficulties with the Williams car, that steering column whose failure was the main cause of the accident, the criticalities of a very unsafe circuit and the signs that seize due. But in hindsight it’s easy. After the tragedy has occurred, it is easy to say what should have been done what not. The fact remains that the question still resonates in our heads today with pain and regret: why did that damned race take place?
Marani accompanies us among the images of the time, the documents of the Court, the testimony of who was there and who was Ayrton’s friend, but also the affectionate words of Alessandro Del Piero, who of the “Magic” was a simple fan. As for the others stories we are faced with a job that leads young people to discover characters, facts, details, perhaps stimulating them to deepen, and that rekindles the memory of those who lived those moments, perhaps in front of the television. This time, however, Marani concedes a little more to the sentimental component. It is difficult to keep the emotional distance that the investigative work wants. Here and there shines through the affection that the author himself has for the object of his story. And it could not be otherwise, because – we believe – there is no Formula 1 fan who has not given that man who died on the track at the age of 34 a piece of his heart.
The most beloved son of Brazil, with Pele and Garrincha, greeted for the last time in Sao Paulo by millions of people from the most affluent neighborhoods as well as from the favelas. An entire country in tears, Romario’s Brazil dedicating him the victory of the American World Cup won against Italy. The talent that builds his career overtaking after overtaking. The champion who lives on instinct but also on super work, who always plays attacking and does not come to terms. The handsome and rich man who, however, does not like power. The star loved as a god but who does not stop thanking his God every day, that of Christians. The Brazilian who loves Italy and pasta and who has stopped running on Sunday. There is a smile and there is sadness. There is life and there is death.
There is all of this in Ayrton Senna’s last lap, the seventh of the San Marino Grand Prix on May 1st 1994, a lap that never ended and that every time we go back to see it on TV again we find ourselves hoping that that yellow helmet will fix the curve at the last moment and that Williams continues his run until the end, until he wins. Until you stop anymore. Because, if as a Brazilian journalist wrote, “not even death was able to overcome it”, here we have had that for once Senna left the way to those who followed him: go dead, go, go ahead and get away.