While the halls of truly great F1 drivers are filled with truly great names, Fangio, Ascari, Moss, Hill, Clark, to name but a few, the different eras of Grand Prix racing have always produced stars in their own wright. Stewart, Fittipaldi, then Lauda and Piquet.
When the cars began to be truly fast, we began to see truly fast drivers. Prost comes to mind along with a certain talanted young German. But the man from Brazil was phenomanal in qualifying. His ruthlessness behind the wheel gave birth to the calculating efficiency we have come to expect of all drivers since.
While I missed the races from that era, since 1998 I haven't missed a single race. Since then, it is hard to believe that there were only 7 men who have won the championship. I have seen a lot of great moments on the track. And the current regulations and tire construction promis more fantastic racing in the future.
But Senna will always be remembered as one of the truly great drivers. That day at Imola also saw the death of another driver that few talk about, overshadowed by the death of Ayrton. Ratzenberger should had been the very last driver to die. Thankfully, since that terrible day in '94, no others have died on the track.
Maybe that's why we will always remember Ayrton Senna. A true champion, who was unequaled in his qualifying speed.
Let's all hope that he really will be the last to lose his life in the pursuit of winning.