26 years since the disappearance of Senna – How did his teammates behave?

1984 – Senna 13 points

Johnny Cecotto – zero points

At the beginning of 1984, Toleman placed his trust in a duo from South America. Over the first nine rounds, the Venezuelan Johnny Cecotto, from the motorcycle grand prix, did not spark. 

While Ayrton Senna narrowly missed the winner's trophy in Monaco, Johnny Cecotto failed to do better than ninth in Montreal (Canada). Unfortunately, a violent accident broke his legs during testing at Silverstone (Great Britain), marking an end to his brief career in F1.

Stefan Johansson – 3 points

Toleman called the Swede to the rescue to replace the unfortunate Johnny Cecotto in the last three rounds in 1984. The Swede was immediately on the pace with a fourth place in Monza (Italy), even though he only started 17th! 

This ordeal is also the setting for a bickering between Ayrton Senna and his employer. Furious at not having been informed of his signing for Lotus the following season, Toleman decided to suspend the Brazilian for the weekend. 

Returning to the Nürburgring where he retired, he ended the campaign with a third place at Estoril (Portugal) while Stefan Johansson was only 11th. 

1985 – Senna 38 points

Elio de Angelis – 33 points

Long before Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna had trouble with Elio de Angelis. The fiery Italian, exasperated by the supposedly authoritarian behavior of his internal teammate, even nicknamed him “Little Machiavelli”.

This descendant of a Roman aristocratic family even leads the world championship after the San Marino Grand Prix in the spring. With three podiums in the first four meetings, he is well ahead of Ayrton Senna. 

However, he will lose the standoff in the second half of the season (no podium) as the Brazilian takes the measure of his Lotus 97T (streak of five consecutive podiums)

1986 – Senna 55 points

Johnny Dumfries – 3 points

Scalded by the strange atmosphere in Lotus hospitality, boss Peter Warr gives Senna a second knife. Johnny Dumfries poses no danger to Ayrton Senna, much faster and more consistent than the Scottish nobleman. He even suffered a non-qualification in the streets of Monaco! 

1987 – Senna 57 points

Satoru Nakajima – 7 points

Engaged thanks to his Japanese nationality (like the new engine manufacturer Honda), the beginner Satoru Nakajima remains a good distance from Ayrton Senna. For the second year in a row, the latter is working with a team committed to his cause. 

There is no match, the five-time Formula Japan champion only brings back seven points and a finish at the foot of the podium during a British Grand Prix.

1988 and 1989 – Senna 90 and 60 points

Alain Prost: 105 and 76 points

Everything has been said and retold about the fratricidal fight of the pilots McLaren during the last year of the Turbo era and the first of the Atmo engine. Without a doubt, Ayrton Senna's toughest work colleague during the F1 period was "The Professor", less attacking in qualifying but more effective in the race.

It’s difficult to summarize all the twists and turns of this stormy cohabitation. We will remember, for example, the battle at Estoril 1988, where the two men flirted with the pit wall from the second lap, and obviously the collision at Suzuka a year later.  

Finally, the Frenchman is the only driver to have scored more points than Ayrton Senna in the same team between 1984 and 1994. 

1990 to 1992 – Senna 78, 96 and 50 points

Gerhard Berger – 43, 43 and 49 points

The smiling Austrian brought a climate of serenity to McLaren at the turn of the 1990s. The two drivers got along well, but on the track it was once again Senna who proved the quickest. 

Gerhard Berger, despite having real qualities behind the wheel, will have to wait almost two full seasons before bringing back a winner's trophy to Ron Dennis. The third exercise will be much more consistent with only one point behind his teammate, now triple champion.

1993 – Senna 73 points

Michael Andretti – 7 points

This had to be the transfer of the year. However, the son of 1 F1978 world champion Mario Andretti quickly disappointed the hopes placed in him. Little helped by a reluctant McLaren-Ford, Michael Andretti has nothing to envy of Pastor Maldonado with three accidents during his first three races. 

A miraculous third place at Monza (more than a lap behind the winner all the same) will not prevent Ron Dennis from ousting him in favor of the young Mika Häkkinen, more serious and diligent during private tests.

Mika Häkkinen – 4 points

The future double crowned winner hardly has time to measure himself against the F1 star. The Finn nevertheless bluffs the paddock by beating the pole king during qualifying at Estoril! Forced to retire the next day, he recovered with a third position on the unforgiving Suzuka track (Japan). In Adelaide (Australia), he gave up due to mechanical damage. It was nevertheless enough to keep the confidence of the McLaren boss for 1994. 

1994 – Senna zero points

Damon Hill – 6 points (before San Marino GP)

It is perilous to draw a comparison on the first two trips of the 1994 season. Uncomfortable with a Williams FW16 which can no longer rely on massive on-board electronics like its previous version, Ayrton Senna however dominates the young Briton in testing, with three poles until Imola.

But in the race, between a spin and a stall in front of his audience at Interlagos (Brazil), then a collision during the first braking in Okayama (Japan), he could not register a single point. The son of Graham Hill took the opportunity to collect six points thanks to a second place in Sao Paulo.