Ayrton Senna da Silva and his millions of fans were driven by emotion; the series based on him does not shy away from this. The story of Senna, three-time Formula 1 champion, is well known to followers of the sport—there are statistics enough to fill an almanac. Yet, when Senna finds himself in his Formula Ford car, the engine roars alongside ‘Highway Star’ by Deep Purple, completing an excellent sensory setting of the early 1980s for the viewers. The musical choices make for quite a spectacle—especially if you are watching with Dolby-enabled speakers—and pair well with the outstanding colour grading of each frame.
Netflix seems to have finally found its footing in sports programming, though it came through a creative portrayal of Senna and not with its documentary series or the live telecasts it recently forayed into. Gabriel Leone takes up the challenge of playing Senna, and almost perfectly captures the champion’s grit, passion and charisma. Matt Mella as Alain Prost, his arch-rival, is also a treat to watch. It is evident that Vicente Amorim, the lead director and showrunner, is not only a fan of Senna, but also an ardent follower of the sport through its evolution over the past few decades.
Most of the series relies on a fictitious character to drive the narrative—reporter Laura Harrison, played to perfection by Kaya Scodelario of The Gentlemen fame. Harrison takes a bit of creative liberty in her coverage of Senna in the series, and the showrunners use that storytelling device to explain away the dramatic tweaks done to the overall account. Despite it feeling like (a very engaging) one, Senna is not a documentary but a biographic drama series. And possibly the most expensive Brazilian television series to date.
There are many standout moments in the show. But if I were to pick just one, it has to be the first peek of Senna as the master of a wet track in the Monaco Grand Prix. The rain, visuals and apt cuts to him as a 13-year-old trying to man-oeuvre his Go-kart in the downpour; it is glorious to watch.
Minutes into the first episode, the show cuts to Senna’s childhood and then moves between various periods of his life without disrupting the flow. The writing and the visuals complement one another and the show transitions between television broadcasts and the modern retelling of the races—something F1 fans who grew up in the Lewis Hamilton era would appreciate.
Senna focuses more on his evolution as a driver through the eyes of the audience back home, masterfully capturing the class dynamics of Brazilian society. The people crowd around neighbourhood television spots on racing Sundays just to watch their beloved hero. Even if briefly, Senna is their escape from the poverty and sadness all around. To put that to film, while keeping the focus on Senna, is a feat in itself.
The series is a collaboration between Brazilian studio Gullane Entretenimento and Netflix, and the former is clearly at the wheel. Unlike most western treatment of South America, the miniseries does not use the country’s visuals to advance the story, but it does plaster the yellow and green of the flag everywhere—much like Senna did throughout his career.
The involvement of the Senna family is evident as the series delves deep into first-hand accounts of the clan. Camila Márdila as his sister Viviane, along with Marco Ricca and Susana Ribeiro as his father and mother, add a lot of soul to the show.
What makes Senna stand out is Netflix’s treatment of the character. If you were to ask anyone following the sport at the turn of the 1990s, they would tell you what a straight shooter Senna was. To fans around the world, his outspokenness was a hallmark of his honesty and sincerity.
F1 has always faced flak as an elitist sport, but once in a while, it really speaks to fans from all walks of life. Senna was hugely responsible for that. The show gives us an account of how he interacted with the people of his country and was always connected to Brazil.
Even in his death, Senna effected change in the sport. Senna’s fatal crash at the Grand Prix of San Marino in Imola, Italy, and the one that claimed the life of rookie Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger just a day earlier, together forced the sport’s governing body FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) to overhaul F1 safety regulations. The disbanded union of Formula 1 drivers, the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, was also reinstated. These are facts known to any seasoned F1 fan, but the showrunners make a valiant effort to convey the emotions that led up to such decisions. And that’s where Senna shines, as it weaves a well-known biographic account in a visually stunning tapestry that appeals to even outsiders to one of the most dangerous sports in the world.
Senna
Available on Netflix
Rating: 4/5 | ★★★★☆