In the late 80s and early 90s, Ayrton Senna and Ron Dennis shared their most successful years.
Ron Dennis has recalled how he relied on a coin toss to decide how much Ayrton Senna would be paid whilst driving for McLaren.
Upon his arrival at McLaren in 1988, Senna, being one of the most exceptional talents in the field, had a keen desire for significant financial compensation. However, Dennis, known for his no-nonsense approach, wasn’t inclined to easily hand over the check.
Ron Dennis reveals crucial coin toss with Ayrton Senna
Dennis was fortunate to have luck on his side, as the figure in question for the three-year deal amounted to a whopping quarter of a million dollars. However, if luck had not favored him, it could have been even more costly.
“I would never underestimate the importance of money,” he stated in his conversation with the BBC. “The issue was that both of us had a strong determination. He desired to join McLaren, and I desired him to be a part of McLaren, but we reached a complete impasse.”
“I mentioned, fully aware of his strong religious beliefs. I asked him, ‘Do you believe in the concept of luck? Do you believe in the existence of higher powers in our world and within humanity?’ To which he responded, ‘Certainly, there is God.’ I then proposed, ‘Let’s leave it up to God’s will, let’s flip a coin.’ However, he seemed to have trouble grasping the idea.”
To ensure there would be no disagreement when the coin settled, I sketched a depiction of a head and a tail. This simple act brought about laughter from him and myself, as we both found it amusing.
More from Ron Dennis
Ron Dennis reveals true motive behind 2007 McLaren scandal and two-year ban threat
Ron Dennis opens up on ‘significant disagreements’ as shock McLaren exit explained
Typically, I enjoy placing bets with drivers, primarily for amusement rather than any serious intent. It serves as an excellent icebreaker in relationships, adding humor and lightheartedness to the dynamic.
After departing from Dennis’ team, Senna tragically lost his life the following year. Dennis was uncertain about how he would have handled the situation had a driver died while racing for him.
He responded, “Your question is excellent. I sincerely pondered it, but I can only share that I consistently thought about it. If a driver were to lose their life in one of my cars, would it make me cease my actions?”
“I believe the circumstances would have been insignificant. There are certain matters that one assumes responsibility for and others that they do not. For instance, a tire failure is a prime example where the resulting accident can be extremely destructive. However, I consider myself incredibly fortunate as I have never encountered such a situation.”
However, it was not solely due to luck; we were highly conscious in our company that the drivers must not only survive accidents but also remain uninjured.
Read next: Stop telling Andretti to buy an existing F1 team when nobody is up for sale
