The greatest single lap in the history of motorsport...

"...the last qualifying session. I was already on pole, then by half a second and then one second and I just kept going. Suddenly I was nearly two seconds faster than anybody else, including my team mate with the same car. And suddenly I realised that I was no longer driving the car consciously. I was driving it by a kind of instinct, only I was in a different dimension. It was like I was in a tunnel. Not only the tunnel under the hotel but the whole circuit was a tunnel. I was just going and going, more and more and more and more. I was way over the limit but still able to find even more.

"Then suddenly something just kicked me. I kind of woke up and realised that I was in a different atmosphere than you normally are. My immediate reaction was to back off, slow down. I drove slowly back to the pits and I didn't want to go out any more that day. It frightened me because I was well beyond my conscious understanding."

Ayrton described in detail an odd feeling that he got during his qualifying laps for the 1988 Monaco GP. He set a time in excess of two seconds quicker than his teammate Alain Prost. To some, this is considered a perfect lap, maybe the greatest single lap in the entire history of motorsport.


Ayrton Senna.

Rob W

What a legend.

R.I.P- A True Legend

One thing you notice about pics of Ayrton is that he has a totally in-control look - focussed and sharp, yet completely chilled at the same time.

On his day the guy is incomaprable. Not Prost, not Schu, not Alonso, not Lauda etc..

Rob W

He was certainly a legend and it was a huge shock when he died. Great competitor but certianly knew how to cheat. RobW do you only talk about cheats who drive for Ferrari?

There is a difference. Senna had the pride to tell everyone beforehand what he was going to do. You can't compare his indiscretions to that of Schumy's. Senna was just very competitive and didn't get on with some people - a big difference to what we've seen in the past few years where it's been a team mantra to win at all costs even if it means losing plenty of PR points in the process.

Rob W

Senna was a cheat as well RobW no matter how you try and minimise it. Prost took out Senna to win the title in 89 and Senna took out Prost and himself the year later to win in 1990. Senna weas the driver to bring in the win at all cost mantra which is what Schu was later accused of.

Its clear anti ferrari, Schumacher bias on you part Rob. Do us all a favour and admit it. Senna was no saint and certainly a cheat.

No, def not. I'm a big Schumacher fan. I have followed F1 for a long time and, without any doubt, the technical regulations and race rules have been in favour of Ferrari for a long time. Someone lasy year listed a series of technical infringements since 1998 and of the 50 or so, Ferrari had committed about 20 of them. None of Ferrari's were punished and every single incidence when another team had, they were punished somehow. This pretty much defies belief when you look at it as a series of events.

I have two friends who work in F1 who both have told me amazing stories about stuff they've heard which Ferrari has been let-off with - including putting lead shot into their fuel tank to bring it up to weight and then taking it out before the race (not possible nowdays under park firme in-theory). Also, when engine seals have been tampered with - let off because they claimed it was in error - despite McLaren being stripped of a race's team points when Mika was with them...

The criticism of Schumy is less clear when it comes to driging 'cause pretty much obvious if someone is cheating. Schumy gets a lot of stick - much of it unfairly.. but I guess when you get caught a few times and deny it in the face of all evidence and expert opionion it you'll be hated for it. At least Senna admitted it and, as I said, his most famous instance he said he was going to do it before-hand. Senna was arrogant and tried to win at all costs for sure, but he did it with such class you can't compare it to MS.

Rob W

Well written RobW and I think I can agree with the majority of it. Schu isn't to blame for Ferrari cheating and getting away with it. Don't get me wrong I'm a huge fan of Senna and I'm sure Schu has also adopted a win at all costs mentality. Not everyone is happy with it but I respect the attitude and drive to win although I don't condone ramming cars off the track etc.