‘Senna’ Review: Netflix Revisits the Life of F1’s Greatest Icon

Few names in the annals of Formula One command such reverence as Ayrton Senna. A man of prodigious talent, fierce determination, and unshakable faith, Senna was not simply a racecar driver but a phenomenon whose influence extended into the world of motorsport and beyond. Read our full Senna review below.

Senna’s name is synonymous with brilliance. A native of São Paulo, Brazil, Senna became the beacon of hope for his country and an icon of perseverance for all of the rest of the world. With over a decade in the sport, he won three World Drivers’ Championship titles (1988, 1990, and 1991) and claimed 41 race victories and an astounding 65 pole positions. 

He was particularly renowned for his ability to excel in adverse conditions, often showcasing an unmatched prowess in the wet-weathered racing. He was an epitome of excellence and integrity within a sport ravaged by political and financial machinations, with his fierce determination, approach to driving in a spiritual manner, and unrelenting pursuit of perfection.

The series attempts to encapsulate the late driver’s life in an ambitious biographical series that is as much about the intricacies of Formula One as it is about Senna himself. The series doesn’t just celebrate his victories but paints a vivid picture of a sport where raw talent alone is rarely enough.

One of the best aspects about the series is how frank it is about the darker side of Formula One. The sport has for long been criticized for being inherently political and biased. The show portrays these aspects, depicting a scenario where sponsorship and connections often play a more significant role in a driver’s career than raw talent.

This makes his rise in the sport much more remarkable as the series examines the politics within teams, such as those he faced at McLaren during his partnership with Prost, when their rivalry very often spread beyond the track. The show also explores his battle with the governing bodies in which it is evident that Senna held his principles tenaciously even in times of extreme adversity.

Though his family is relatively well-off back in Brazil, Senna’s journey from Formula Ford to Formula One was not all that easy. He did have the necessary financial capital to enter into the racing world, but that wasn’t nearly as smooth of a ride for him. Many of the drivers of his generation did so on significant sponsorship deals and connections within the sport whilst Senna had to earn it with constant persistence and just pure brilliance and dominance in the sport. Netflix’s exploration of his successes and struggles in a well-balanced series makes it an interesting watch.

Senna started his racing career in karting where his competitive streak and natural ability in driving began to emerge. He progressed through the motorsport ranks into Formula Ford and eventually into Formula Three, which he won in 1983. The Formula Three years with Martin Brundle is the stuff of legend and defines his aggressive yet calculated style of driving. These were very formative years that defined the driver and competitor he was to become in Formula One.

In 1984, Senna had his first Formula One race for Toleman, a tiny, underfunded team. There, his talent was impossible to ignore, especially at Monaco Grand Prix where he first graced his dominance in the most terrible rain-soaked conditions, Senna delivered one of the finest performances in the history of the sport, carving through the field to nearly take the win from Alain Prost had the FIA not favored Prost’s request on stopping the race. Though he could only finish second, that display of skill and bravery marked him as a future star.

Senna’s career soon then took off from there and in 1985, he joined Lotus where he won his first victory in Formula One. But it was in 1988 when he landed at McLaren’s racing team that defined Senna’s legacy. And it was there that his partnership with Alain Prost would be one of the most famous rivalries F1 have ever seen, giving the world some of its most thrilling racing.

One of the strengths of the series is its cast, bringing to life the iconic figures of Formula One in an extremely authentic manner. Ayrton Senna was brought to life by Gabriel Leone (Ferrari), who did a remarkable job of capturing the driver’s intensity and charisma. Leone showed an exceptional ability to depict Senna’s fierce competitiveness, his unwavering faith, and his occasional moments of self-doubt.

Equally memorable is Matt Mella as Alain Prost. Mella’s performance doesn’t merely mimic but gives off the vibe of Prost as being calculating and composed. Dubbed “The Professor” at times, Prost was one of those guys who went about racing in a methodical way, completely at odds with Senna’s aggressive and instinctive nature. Mella encapsulates the role perfectly by bringing depth to a character who could easily have been reduced to a one-dimensional antagonist.

The dynamic between Senna and Prost remains one of the series’ highlight points. Their ontrack battles, especially when they fought together for McLaren, were simply legendary. The series puts it perfectly, depicting both the fierce fight that the two drivers possessed as well as their mutual respect for each other. Their deciding championship clashes at Suzuka in 1989 and in 1990 are recreated with painstaking attention to detail, capturing the tension and drama that defined their relationship.

Meanwhile, Kaya Scodelario (The Maze Runner, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man Tell No Tales) injects an interesting fictional aspect to the series by playing Laura Harrison, a fictional journalist who chronicles Senna’s rise to superstardom. Harrison is a composite character who encapsulates the role of the media in shaping the public image of Senna. Through her interactions with Senna, the series examines the pressures of fame and the difficulty of maintaining personal and professional life. Her character often tends towards melodrama, but Scodelario is a force to be reckoned with and does a fine job to complement the series’ core narrative.

Among the most heart-stopping elements of this series are the racing sequences. The roar of the engines and the sound and sparks of screeching tires, every scene is crafted to immerse viewers in the high stakes world of Formula One racing. The series captures a visceral intensity in racing scenes, especially in wet roads where Senna stood out.

The rain-soaked circuits feature breathtaking imagery that brings out the beauty and danger associated with racing in such an environment. These scenes highlight just how uniquely Senna seemed to find grip and push a car to its limits even through the most treacherous circumstances. The Monaco Grand Prix, which became a sort of defining moment in his career, is recreated with stunning accuracy, perfectly immersing in the chaos and drama of the race.

Although some of the editing in earlier episodes are a bit wonky, it is still superb throughout the series particularly on the racing scenes, where the speed and aggression of Formula One racing are palpable in quick cuts and fluid camera angles that makes the viewers put directly into the driver’s seat. However, while the editing excels, the cinematography never reaches that panache that could have sent this series soaring as most of the visuals have that familiar sheen to many Netflix’s foreign productions; glossy, yet bland.

Overall, Netflix’s Senna is an exciting and touching portrayal of Ayrton Senna’s life and career, capturing the thrills of Formula One racing but also about the private and professional struggles of one of the sport’s greatest personalities. It manages the fine line between paying respects to the titular character and providing a wider commentary to Formula One. The series does not shy away in depicting the imperfections and weaknesses of Senna as a multifaceted man. His hot temper, constant ambition, and at times reckless nature are portrayed before his compassion and humility.

Despite its technical shortcomings, Senna succeeds in honoring its subject while providing a candid look at the complexities of Formula One. It’s a series that will resonate with fans of the sport and newcomers alike, offering a compelling portrait of a man who defied the odds to become a legend.

Senna is directed by Vicente Amorim and Júlia Rezende, written by Álvaro Campos, Gustavo Bragança, Rafael Spínola, Thais Falcão, and Álvaro Mamute. The miniseries stars Gabriel Leone as Ayrton Senna, Kaya Scodelario as Laura Harrison, Pâmela Tomé as Xuxa Meneghel, Patrick Kennedy as Ron Dennis, Matt Mella as Alain Prost and more. Senna is now streaming on Netflix.

Thanks for reading, if you liked this review of Senna, check out more reviews here at Feature First.