Ex-Ferrari F1 boss reveals how he denied Senna a chance to sign with the team

Former Ferrari staff principal Jean Todt has revealed the essential roadblock that stopped Ayrton Senna from signing with Ferrari within the early Nineteen Nineties.

When Lewis Hamilton signed for Ferrari forward of the 2024 season, a yr earlier than his eventual swap from Mercedes, it was the largest story in world sport, transcending motorsport alone.

Had Todt been prepared to tear up the contract of both Gerhard Berger or Jean Alesi for the 1994 season, the information would have induced precisely the identical degree of hype.

Talking on the Excessive Efficiency Podcast, Todt stated: „The primary dream driver I mentioned (with Ferrari) was Ayrton Senna.

„He got here to my room and we spent a part of the evening collectively, to discuss him becoming a member of Ferrari, and he wished to return. He wished to return, however in ’94. In ’94, we already had contracts with Gerhard Berger and Jean Alesi.

„So, I stated to him that ’94 wouldn’t be doable. Firstly, we weren’t prepared but, after which we have now a contract. He answered to me, ‚In Components 1, contracts are usually not necessary‘. I stated, ‚For me, a contract is necessary‘.”

This precept is an altogether uncommon one in F1, particularly in trendy occasions, with launch clauses now commonplace and drivers typically trying, and succeeding, in forcing by way of a transfer regardless of what’s written down of their preparations.

Previous to his fateful transfer to Williams for the 1994 season, Senna had been racing with McLaren, the staff with which he’s most related, and with whom he secured all three of his world titles.

The transfer may have occurred a season earlier, with Honda pulling out of F1, however a ‘No Senna’ clause in Alain Prost’s Williams contract prevented this from being a risk, even with the Brazilian providing to race without cost to skirt the difficulty.

Todt added: „I heard there was some contact earlier than me, however I can not discuss that. With me, on the head of the Components 1 staff, it was a dialogue in September ’93 for him arriving in ’95, and he wished to reach in ’94, that’s the reason he went to Williams.“