After a teaser in April of 2024, the first trailer for the Senna Netflix series is here and gives more insight into what awaits come November 29 - with rather impressive detail on show.
Ayrton Senna - one of the most legendary names in Formula One history continues to inspire fans to this day. The three-time World Champion who tragically died at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix is the subject of an upcoming Netflix series simply titled 'Senna', and the wait for the first episode will be over on November 29.
Thus far, only a teaser showing scenes surrounding his iconic 1991 Brazilian Grand Prix victory - his first on home soil - had been shown in late April of 2024. Now, the first proper trailer goes into more detail - and detail is the name of the game in the shots that Netflix selected to show.
Of course, the series is trying to follow in big footsteps. 2010's 'Senna' was a documentary, but felt like a proper movie throughout much of its runtime, showing Senna on and off the track. The Netflix series is set to show both Ayrton Senna, the ruthless racer, as well as the man outside the car.
What really surprised me in a positive way is the level of detail the trailer gets right. This starts with Gabriel Leone, who is playing Senna, recreating the iconic pose of Senna raising the trophy in pain on the 1991 Brazilian GP podium, and it extends to basically every shot in the trailer. The sponsors on the cars and tracks, the type of helmets Senna used throughout his career, even the curbs are correct for Interlagos 1991, for instance.
This also extends to the cast. Leone, while not uncannily close to Senna in looks, does seem to convey Senna's intensity quite well, and even has the hair styles to match the different eras of Senna's career. What did make me do a double take was Matt Mella as Alain Prost. Mella looks so much like The Professor, right down to his locks, it is almost scary.
Matt Mella as Alain Prost (left) and Gabriel Leone as Ayrton Senna.
In reality, neither of the two probably qualified for the role of hero and villain in their shared story - and by the end of 1993, they had started to reconcile, as was evident the last time they shared a podium at the 1993 Australian Grand Prix.
Interestingly, shortly after the Senna series is released, French television channel Canal+ is set to debut a mini-docuseries about Prost on December 8 - even on screen, Prost and Senna still go head-to-head.
Meanwhile, the Senna series also looks set to highlight much of Senna's life outside the car, showing conversations with his father Milton da Silva (Marco Ricca), a glimpse into his relationship with Brazilian TV personality Xuxa Meneghel (Pamela Tome), and more of Ayrton's private life.
The series will likely be just as emotional as it is going to be interesting and insightful - as someone who loves their racing and particularly F1 history, I am very excited to see the final result. November 29 is already circled in my calendar.
Automobilista 2 in particular is probably THE Senna sim when it comes to first-party content. The sim features Senna's cars from the 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993 seasons, as well as a total of 13 circuits as they were in the late 1980s and early 1990s, some even in multiple variants. For the full overview of AMS2's F1 season content, check our Ultimate Automobilista 2 Formula 1 Season Guide.
With how passionate Reiza are about the career of their native country's biggest F1 hero, it is great to see them get to help with the project. And who knows, maybe extra assets that are not in the sim yet will find their way into AMS2 eventually - one can dream!
What are your impressions of the Senna Netflix series trailer? Let us know in the comments below and join the discussion in our forums!
Ayrton Senna - one of the most legendary names in Formula One history continues to inspire fans to this day. The three-time World Champion who tragically died at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix is the subject of an upcoming Netflix series simply titled 'Senna', and the wait for the first episode will be over on November 29.
Thus far, only a teaser showing scenes surrounding his iconic 1991 Brazilian Grand Prix victory - his first on home soil - had been shown in late April of 2024. Now, the first proper trailer goes into more detail - and detail is the name of the game in the shots that Netflix selected to show.
Of course, the series is trying to follow in big footsteps. 2010's 'Senna' was a documentary, but felt like a proper movie throughout much of its runtime, showing Senna on and off the track. The Netflix series is set to show both Ayrton Senna, the ruthless racer, as well as the man outside the car.
Cooperation With The Senna Family
The trailer starts with Senna's racing roots as a child, transitioning to scenes from his career in karting, Formula Ford and eventually F1. Unlike the 2010 documentary, which by its very nature could only be about Senna, the series looks to let Senna, the main character, tell the story himself instead. It was created in cooperation with the Senna family, too.What really surprised me in a positive way is the level of detail the trailer gets right. This starts with Gabriel Leone, who is playing Senna, recreating the iconic pose of Senna raising the trophy in pain on the 1991 Brazilian GP podium, and it extends to basically every shot in the trailer. The sponsors on the cars and tracks, the type of helmets Senna used throughout his career, even the curbs are correct for Interlagos 1991, for instance.
This also extends to the cast. Leone, while not uncannily close to Senna in looks, does seem to convey Senna's intensity quite well, and even has the hair styles to match the different eras of Senna's career. What did make me do a double take was Matt Mella as Alain Prost. Mella looks so much like The Professor, right down to his locks, it is almost scary.
Matt Mella as Alain Prost (left) and Gabriel Leone as Ayrton Senna.
Prost the villain again?
Certainly, the rivalry between the two will take up a good chunk of the series' plot - it was one of the definitive elements of both drivers' careers. It will be interesting to see how exactly this rivalry is portrayed - one of the main criticisms towards the 2010 documentary was that this important chapter was shown in a one-sided way, making out Prost as the clear villain.In reality, neither of the two probably qualified for the role of hero and villain in their shared story - and by the end of 1993, they had started to reconcile, as was evident the last time they shared a podium at the 1993 Australian Grand Prix.
Interestingly, shortly after the Senna series is released, French television channel Canal+ is set to debut a mini-docuseries about Prost on December 8 - even on screen, Prost and Senna still go head-to-head.
Meanwhile, the Senna series also looks set to highlight much of Senna's life outside the car, showing conversations with his father Milton da Silva (Marco Ricca), a glimpse into his relationship with Brazilian TV personality Xuxa Meneghel (Pamela Tome), and more of Ayrton's private life.
The series will likely be just as emotional as it is going to be interesting and insightful - as someone who loves their racing and particularly F1 history, I am very excited to see the final result. November 29 is already circled in my calendar.
The Sim Racing Link: Reiza Helped With CGI Assets
It is no surprise that the series being heavily rooted in Senna's native Brazil - and one of these roots actually goes back to sim racing. Reiza Studios, the developer behind the Automobilista series, has helped out with assets for the CGI effects in the series.Automobilista 2 in particular is probably THE Senna sim when it comes to first-party content. The sim features Senna's cars from the 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993 seasons, as well as a total of 13 circuits as they were in the late 1980s and early 1990s, some even in multiple variants. For the full overview of AMS2's F1 season content, check our Ultimate Automobilista 2 Formula 1 Season Guide.
With how passionate Reiza are about the career of their native country's biggest F1 hero, it is great to see them get to help with the project. And who knows, maybe extra assets that are not in the sim yet will find their way into AMS2 eventually - one can dream!
What are your impressions of the Senna Netflix series trailer? Let us know in the comments below and join the discussion in our forums!
