The day Senna tamed the storm to secure his first F1 victory at the 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix

On April 21, 1985, Estoril was engulfed in torrential rain. Gusts of wind buffeted the circuit. Puddles trapped the drivers at every turn. Amidst this chaos, a young Brazilian asserted his dominance. Ayrton Senna (Lotus), at the wheel of the 97T, secured the first victory of his career that day. Formula 1He doesn't just win. He crushes the competition with a mastery that stuns the paddock. Michele Alboreto (Classic Ferrari for sale) finishes more than a minute behind. The other seven classified drivers concede at least one lap.

From the qualifying rounds, Senna made a strong impression. He secured his first pole position with authority. Just before the start, however, he complained of engine trouble, and then his gearbox failed. The entire assembly was replaced in time.

Above Estoril, the dark sky already heralds the deluge. A blessing in disguise, because the rain, which is nevertheless driving it " on the edge of danger " seems to reveal his talent. Monaco 1984, already played underwater, had given a first glimpse of what the Brazilian could do when the grip disappeared.

Initially, he maintained his lead without faltering. Behind him, Elio de Angelis (Lotus) overtook him. Alain Prost (McLarenThe gaps are widening quickly. The other drivers are fighting to stay on the track. Many are making mistakes.

François Hesnault (Brabham) spun out on the fourth lap. Philippe Alliot (RAM) aquaplaned on the same lap and ended up in the safety barrier. The conditions made the race almost surreal. Visibility was zero, the runway was covered in puddles… stupid " said Niki Lauda after the race.

A demonstration in the pouring rain

Senna, meanwhile, is completing lap after lap with surgical precision. The ranks are thinning behind him. Riccardo Patrese (Alfa Romeo) is trapped by a puddle and hits Stefan Johansson's Ferrari. The Italian driver doesn't get going again. Senna, however, continues to find racing lines invisible to the others. The major danger was the constant change in climatic conditions. ", the winner will explain. Sometimes the rain was heavy, sometimes it was just drizzle. I couldn't see anything in my rearview mirrors. I couldn't even keep control of my car. car The straightaway was dangerous. The race should have been stopped earlier. It was much worse than Monaco last year. »

The rest of the field continues to pay the price for the impassable weather. Gerhard Berger (Arrows) spins and retires on lap fourteen. Jacques Laffite (Ligier) returns to the garage on lap seventeen, convinced that his car has become impossible to drive. Keke Rosberg (WilliamsThe car hits the barriers. The Williams comes to a stop, lying across the track. Pierluigi Martini (Minardi) then returns to the pits to end his race. On lap twenty-two, Martin Brundle (Tyrrell) pulls off the track, his gear lever torn off. Mauro Baldi (Spirit) also retires after going off the track.

Even the biggest names fall victim to misfortune, with Alain Prost (McLaren) losing control of his car on the straight and crashing into the outside wall. Nelson Piquet (Brabham) also retires, his car having become undrivable. Thierry Boutsen (Arrows) withdraws with a flooded engine. The thirty-fourth lap also seals the fate of Andrea De Cesaris (Ligier), who is unable to keep his car on the track.

At the front, Senna's Lotus slides, but never breaks down. I was simply driving at my own pace, according to the capabilities of my car. It was consistent, perfectly balanced, fantastic. "He's in control at all times," the Brazilian will say. "Halfway through the race, he already has a comfortable lead over Michele Alboreto."

The birth of a legend

The rain intensified as the laps progressed. Retirements piled up. Only a few drivers remained. Senna had a single scare, on lap thirty-seven, when all four wheels touched the grass. It was without consequence. The Lotus returned to the track, and the Brazilian resumed his run with renewed vigor.

On lap 50, Niki Lauda made the final retirement of the race, with a broken piston. The race ended two laps earlier than scheduled, after two hours of rainy competition. Senna finished more than a minute ahead of Alboreto. That day, the Brazilian didn't just succumb to the elements; he conquered them. This victory was no accident, but rather the result of pure talent, achieved at the precise moment when the car almost completely lost its influence.

This triumph at Estoril transcends mere sporting achievement. It marks the beginning of an era, paving the way for three world titles for a driver who became a benchmark in the rain. Monaco 1984 had already hinted at his potential. Estoril 1985 confirms it brilliantly: it is the beginning of a legend.

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