Ayrton Senna’s influence on the Formula 3 grid

This year marks 30 years since the tragic passing of Formula 1 icon Ayrton Senna. Ahead of Round 3 in Imola, a number of drivers sat down to give their tributes to the three-time World Champion.

Hear from the 2024 grid on what Ayrton Senna means to them and why his legacy still has a lasting impact on up-and-coming talent in motorsport.

Sebastian Montoya, Campos Racing

“For me it's quite interesting because I've always looked up to my dad and there was one day when I was younger, I think I was like seven or eight years old and was just starting in racing, I asked him who he looked up to when he was young. My dad responded Senna.

“From that point on, I just started learning more and more about him, asking my dad about him and looking at videos, reading things people said about him. You kind of start understanding how much of a legend he was.

“I think he's incredible. His mentality and the way he worked, that's what you dream of as a driver. And I think it's really cool like the story he has and the way he was different from everyone. He just wanted to be the best and always improve, and for me that’s what being the best is.”

Luke Browning, Hitech Pulse-Eight

“He’s an icon, incredibly special. I'll be paying homage to him this this weekend and I think everyone will be showing the respect we have for what he did for the sport.

“His final races were as a Williams driver and at the museum, seeing all of those cars, it’s spectacular, super, super special. I'm really looking forward to racing this weekend, it'll be my first ever race weekend at Imola.”

Laurens van Hoepen, ART Grand Prix

“Well, when I was very young and I learned what Formula 1 was, I was watching all kinds of YouTube videos and all that kept coming up were videos of Ayrton Senna. I must have watched hours and hours and hours of videos of Senna, so he's a huge inspiration for all the racing I'm doing.

“He's one of the biggest drivers ever and he's an icon so it means a lot. What he did is just something you look up to. You watch him driving the car so on the limit, like all those Monaco pole laps for example, they're incredible to watch. So, you look up to that.”

Sebastian Vettel who organised a track run on Thursday evening in which members of the Formula 1, Formula 2 and 3 paddocks attended also added: “I was very pleased to see the F2 and F3 drivers and paddock members joining today’s tribute run. We’re one big community. One of our colleagues lost his live when he was doing what we all loved. Together, today, we remembered him and all the others who we miss dearly #ForeverSenna.”