Senna's first F1 test(s)

[rallycross]

I hope this is not a re-post from ages ago, I've not seen this before.

Its a Brazilian made clip of his first 3 tests / drives in F1 - Williams, then McLaren then Toleman (Benneton, Renault, Lotus/Enstone Renault etc).

The reason to watch this fuzzy old clip with wonky sub-titles is to see how much he monstered that Williams - oversteering it round Donnington on his first ever drive of an F1 car - amazing.

The team said he was 1 second faster than the car had ever gone on those tyres at that circuit.

clip

https://youtu.be/-xwZCqHpX7Q

Also worth adding to this a link to Tommy Byrnes first drive of an F1 car, at McLaren, where he showed similar skills but never got the chance to progress (read his book).

https://youtu.be/l7vpbDus9UI

[belleair302]

There is a piece on the McLaren Old Boys and Girls site about the chassis used by Tommy Byrne which is now on display down in Woking at the HQ.

[rallycross]

belleair302 said:

There is a piece on the McLaren Old Boys and Girls site about the chassis used by Tommy Byrne which is now on display down in Woking at the HQ.

Thanks do you a link to that site?

[chunder27]

I gather he also tested a Brabham didn't he?

[markcoznottz]

chunder27 said:

I gather he also tested a Brabham didn't he?

Yes and turned in mediocre times. Anecdotes of piquet sabotaging the test via set up/ tyres via sponsor pressure.

[carl_w]

rallycross said:

Also worth adding to this a link to Tommy Byrnes first drive of an F1 car, at McLaren, where he showed similar skills but never got the chance to progress (read his book).

https://youtu.be/l7vpbDus9UI

The Tommy Byrne documentary "Crash and Burn" is on Amazon Prime at the moment.

[markbigears]

It’s a good watch