Senna is a Netflix series that dramatises the highs and lows of legendary Brazilian motor racing driver Ayrton Senna’s personal life and career, right up until his tragic death on the track. It stars Gabriel Leone as the legendary three-time world champion and, made with the backing of his family, it follows his career from the moment he moved to England in 1981 to his death during the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy thirteen years later. It also stars The Maze Runner and Pirates of the Caribbean actor Kaya Scodelario and Payback’s Steven Mackintosh.
Here’s everything you need to know about Netflix series Senna…
Senna release date
Senna is a six-part series released worldwide by Netflix on Friday November 29 2024.
Is there a trailer for Senna?
Yes there is now a trailer for Senna which shows Gabriel Leone playing the smaous Formula One driver. Take a look below...
Senna plot — what happens in this biopic series
The series starts as Ayrton Senna (Gabriel Leone) moves to the UK in 1981 to compete in Formula Ford. It follows his career highs and lows from as well as his personal life up until the tragic 1994 accident that saw him crash into a concrete barrier while leading the San Marino Grand Prix at the Imola Circuit in Italy and subsequently die at the age of just 34.
This biopic drama includes thrilling reenactments of Senna’s races, including his rivalry with French driver Alain Prost ((Matt Mella) plus incredible performance at a rain-soaked 1984 Monaco Grand Prix. As well as Senna’s well-documented exploits as a driver, the series sheds light on his life away from the race track.
Senna cast — Gabriel Leone on playing Ayrton Senna
Gabriel Leone takes on the role of the world champion F1 driver Ayrton Senna.
"He started at the age of four,’ says Gabriel of the driver who was dubbed the ‘Rain King’ because of his skills in the wet. ‘He practised in the rain more than anyone else. So it was a mix of talent and hard work."
Ayrton Senna moved to England to pursue formula racing but, after winning the Formula Three championship, he moved back to Brazil. However, he was soon tempted back by an offer to race in Formula One.
"F1 is a European sport, so entering this world as a Brazilian wasn’t easy. If you read Senna’s letters, he shares the problems he’s facing with his parents, but he was resilient and he never gave up. There was something inside him that kept him trying to achieve his biggest dream."
Brazilian actor Gabriel Leone on how he prepared to play F1 icon Ayrton Senna in his huge new biopic
* Gabriel Leone has also starred in Ferrari, Dom, Hidden Truths, Dark Days and Velho Chico.
Who else is starring in Senna?
Senna features important figures from the driver's life, including Alain Prost (Matt Mella), Galvão Bueno (Gabriel Louchard), and Xuxa (Pâmela Tomé). The cast also includes Alice Wegmann (Lilian, Ayrton's first wife), Camila Márdila (Viviane Senna, his sister), Christian Malheiros (Maurinho, the driver's friend), Hugo Bonemer (Nelson Piquet), Julia Foti (Adriane Galisteu), Kazuhiro Muroyama (Soichiro Honda), Marco Ricca (Milton, Ayrton's father), Nicolas Cruz (Leonardo, his brother), Rodrigo Veloso (Flávio, his brother-in-law), Susana Ribeiro (Zaza, Ayrton's mother). And also Kaya Scodelario, as a fictional journalist, Laura, Arnaud Viard (Jean-Marie Balestre), Patrick Kennedy (Ron Dennis), Joe Hurst (Keith Sutton), Johannes Heinrichs (Niki Lauda), Keisuke Hoashi (Osamu Goto), Leon Ockenden (James Hunt), Richard Clothier (Peter Warr), Steven Mackintosh (Frank Williams), Terry Fullerton (Rob Compton), Tom Mannion (Sid Watkins), and Tom Mckay (Alex Hawkridge), among others.
Behind the scenes, locations and more on Netflix drama Senna
Senna is a large-scale production in Brazil, where filming is took place in São Paulo and Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro. The miniseries, which is one of Netflix Brazil's most ambitious and innovative productions and is produced by Gullane. Filming also took place in Argentina and Uruguay and the UK.
The general direction of Senna is by Vicente Amorim, who is also showrunner and director, and direction by Julia Rezende, Senna is produced by Gullane in partnership with Senna Brands and the pilot's family.
Head Writer is Gustavo Bragança, while other writers are Álvaro Campos, Gustavo Bragança, Rafael Spínola, Thais Falcão and Álvaro Mamute. Directors are Vicente Amorim and Júlia Rezende.
All about the life of late racing driver Ayrton Senna
Passionate driver and fierce competitor Ayrton Senna was born into a wealthy Brazilian family and developed a love of racing when he got his first go-kart at four-years-old. At 13 he won the first go-kart race he entered then eight years later began single-seater racing in the UK. He started Formula One racing in 1985 and became known as the fastest driver of all time. Ayrton won three F1 world titles but was killed when his race-leading Williams car crashed into a concrete wall during the San Marino Grand Prix ion the Imola race track Italy on May 1 1994.
