Bruno Senna was on the verge of securing a position with Honda for the 2009 season, but unfortunately, the Japanese team withdrew from Formula 1.
Following the extremely successful Ayrton Senna and Honda partnership in the late 1980s/early 90s, the two names almost reunited in 2009.
Ayrton Senna held the title of being the most successful driver for Honda with 32 wins until Max Verstappen emerged victorious at the 2023 Miami Grand Prix.
Bruno Senna shrugs off Ron Dennis and Helmut Marko comments
After Senna’s tragic accident at Imola in 1994, Bruno, Ayrton’s talented nephew, was unfortunately prohibited by his family from pursuing his passion for karting, despite being recognized by his famous uncle as a skilled driver.
During his teenage years, Senna rediscovered his abandoned hobby and embarked on a journey to prove himself as a racing driver. With the support of Ayrton’s trusted friend, Gerhard Berger, he sought to compensate for the time he had lost compared to other drivers and gain valuable experience.
The Senna name had its advantages and disadvantages, as the young driver swiftly made his way up the ranks and demonstrated impressive speed. However, he also faced heightened scrutiny and pressure due to the weight of his famous surname, which may not have been experienced by a driver without such a renowned family name.
During his ascent through the ranks, Senna encountered a memorable incident that left a lasting impression. It occurred right after his initial foray into single-seater racing in the Asian Formula Renault series in 2004. As the season drew to a close and Senna headed towards Macau, he found himself crossing paths with the renowned Red Bull talent scout, Helmut Marko.
As Senna collaborated with Berger, an Austrian colleague who later became a shareholder in Toro Rosso, did he perceive a slight advantage with the Red Bull hierarchy as they prepared for F1?
“He expressed on the Beyond the Grid podcast, one would assume,”
“Interestingly, I participated in the Macau race in Formula Renault at the end of 2004.”
After a completely crazy race, I finished in second place, with Helmut Marko present at the event.
“I didn’t particularly enjoy the car and it wasn’t one of my most competitive performances as I had never been there before.”
“However, during my fourth race in my career, Helmut approached me and bluntly stated, ‘You will never reach the level required for Formula 1.’ Those were his exact words. Helmut, who happened to be the individual responsible for selecting drivers for the Red Bull series.”
In addition, Senna recounted feeling ignored by Ron Dennis, the head of McLaren, who had shared a strong bond with Ayrton during their collaboration in the late 1980s and early 90s.
Before I embarked on my racing career, I crossed paths with Ron Dennis who expressed, “You are too tall for the role of a racing driver.” When queried about any assistance provided by the renowned team boss in my journey up the hierarchy, he responded.
“No, absolutely not. It’s perfectly alright. I mean, I had no anticipation of receiving assistance from anyone.”
“People always compared me to Ayrton instead of comparing me to the racers of my time. That’s just how it is. So, what can I really say?”
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Bruno Senna comes close to landing Honda and Brawn seat
Senna’s journey to GP2 by 2008 culminated in a commendable second-place finish in the championship that year. This achievement led to him being appointed as a test driver for the Honda team, and he was given the opportunity to participate in a test session towards the end of 2008, with the potential of securing a contract for the upcoming season.
Senna’s Impressive Performance at Circuit de Catalunya in Late November 2008 Leads to Contract Negotiations for 2009.
“He said that Honda had chosen to assess both me and Lucas di Grassi for potential inclusion in the team and future program.”
The test in Barcelona lasted for three days. On the first day, we took turns driving the car. Lucas handled the second day, while I took charge on the third day. Overall, the test was highly successful.
“Throughout the day, Jenson tirelessly installed new tires. Meanwhile, I managed to fit two sets of new tires myself, which wasn’t too shabby for my first time in an F1 car, considering I was only two and a half tenths behind Jenson.”
“Following that, our progress had been exceptional. The representatives from Honda displayed great interest, leading to discussions about potential future collaborations. Additionally, we had already finalized plans for a test session at Jerez, scheduled to take place in a month and a half. I had received confirmation to participate in the test.”
However, it is clear that Honda withdrew, resulting in the event never taking place.
Shortly after Senna’s test with the team, Honda pulled out from F1, making the contract they had sent to the Brazilian for review completely worthless.
“He mentioned that they had sent us a contract for our review, which meant that there was a possible racing contract being considered for the upcoming year,” he stated.
“We didn’t have a signed contract, but it wouldn’t have made a difference since the team was going to change for the next year regardless.”
Despite the car’s lack of competitiveness in 2008, it became truly impressive when they incorporated elements of the 2009 aero package and fitted slick tires.
The car was an absolute pleasure to drive, thanks to its exceptional gearbox. Although the engine might not have been the most robust, overall, the car proved to be outstanding in every way.
“I took Jenson’s seat and the test completely wrecked me – my neck was completely shot after 140 laps. However, I was absolutely thrilled. I was eagerly anticipating the opportunity to race for that team, even if it meant we might not win races in the following year. I had immense confidence in my ability to perform exceptionally well for them.”
After Ross Brawn famously purchased the team for a mere pound, he acquired the Honda design and combined it with a Mercedes engine supply. The team, now named Brawn, proceeded to embark on a remarkable season, achieving triumphs in both championships, akin to a captivating fairy tale.
It was Senna who disclosed that both he and Barrichello were in the running for the seat alongside Button. Ultimately, Button would emerge as the winner of the Drivers’ Championship with the team that season.
“He said we put in an extraordinary amount of effort, an incredible amount of effort. We had numerous meetings with Ross. Ultimately, I believe they chose the safer option,” he expressed.
Because everything was significantly delayed in development, they were unsure of the true value of the car they possessed.
“They had made some modifications to the car to accommodate the Mercedes engine. It was undoubtedly a significant challenge for the team, and I truly admire their decision to opt for the safe choice when organizing a race team for a Formula 1 championship.”
“They were aware of Rubens’ capabilities and competitiveness as a skilled driver, and they also had Jenson on their team.”
“If we had conducted the second test at Jerez before Honda withdrew, perhaps I could have demonstrated much more. However, with only a single day in the car, I can’t honestly fault them.”
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