Six-part drama series on F1 legend Ayrton Senna coming to Netflix

Netflix has announced the lead actor who will star as Ayrton Senna in its upcoming six-part series – simply titled Senna.

Streaming giant Netflix has the first details about Senna – an upcoming six-part drama series centred around the life of three-time Formula One champion, Ayrton Senna.

First announced in September 2020, Senna – not to be confused with the 2011 documentary film of the same name – is the first drama series to be authorised by the Formula One legend’s family, following his tragic death in 1994.

In a post on social media platform Twitter, Netflix announced Brazilian actor Gabriel Leone will take the lead role, marking his international debut after starring in a number of local films and TV shows.

Gabriel Leone will play Ayrton Senna in Senna, a six-episode series based on the life of Ayrton Senna, the world-famous Formula 1 icon.

(???? Raquel Espírito Santo / Netflix) pic.twitter.com/pVKPYyCk7p

— Netflix (@netflix) March 21, 2023

Brazilian television production house Gullane has previously said the series will begin in 1981 when Ayrton Senna moved to the UK to compete in the Formula Ford 1600 race series, rather than the years prior where he honed his craft in Brazil racing go-karts.

Ayrton Senna worked his way up the junior categories in 1982 and 1983 before making his Formula One debut with the under-funded Toleman team in 1984, sensationally finishing second to future arch rival Alain Prost at a rain-soaked Monaco Grand Prix.

A move to Lotus in 1985 resulted in pole positions and race wins, though Ayrton Senna had to wait until 1988 for his first real shot at the title – going up against Prost as a team-mate at the dominant McLaren team.

The rivalry between the Brazilian and French drivers led to a number of spectacular on-track moments during their two years as team-mates, as well as controversial moments when Prost moved to Ferrari in 1990.

After winning three championships with McLaren in 1988, 1990 and 1991, Ayrton Senna switched teams to Williams in 1994 – regarded as one of the most highly anticipated driver/team combinations at the time.

Sadly, the full potential of the relationship was never realised, as Ayrton Senna was killed while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, becoming the second fatality of the weekend following Roland Ratzenberger’s death the day prior.

Nearly 30 years on from his untimely death, Ayrton Senna is regarded as one of the greatest drivers in Formula One history among legends such as Michael Schumacher, Jim Clark, Juan Manuel Fangio and Lewis Hamilton.

Despite its initial launch date of 2022, Netflix is yet to announce when we can expect to see Senna on the streaming service.

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