Jean Todt “Ayrton Senna refused to join Ferrari F1 in 1994″[F1-Gate .com]

Former Ferrari F1 team representative Jean Todt has revealed that he has refused to ask Ayrton Senna to join the team ahead of 1994.

Ayrton Senna’s participation in Ferrari F1 has always appeared on the “Dream F1 Transfers Never Angry” list, but could happen in 1994.

Jean Todt, then Ferrari F1 team representative, explained to beIN Sports that the transfer did not happen because he wanted to respect the 1994 contract between Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger.

“A few weeks after I arrived at Ferrari, I met Ayrton Senna at a hotel on Lake Como, where I was staying on a weekend in Monza,” said Jean Todt.

“I offered to move to Ferrari in 1995, but he wanted 1994. We already had two drivers, Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger, so at his request I couldn’t answer. When Alesi asked why, I explained the situation to him. “

“He didn’t give up and said the contract wasn’t important in F1, but I said the contract had to be respected.”

“So we offered him a 1995 contract, but unfortunately we know what happened.”

“When I joined Ferrari, the chassis rep said he couldn’t win because of the engine, others said the chassis was the problem, and others said the driver was responsible. I wanted a top driver “

“I told myself. We have variables that we can eliminate. If we can get the best driver in the world, or at least the driver who has already won the world champion, we can eliminate the excuse.”

“With Senna, no one could have blamed the driver, which is why he later won Michael Schumacher.”

Jean Todt also recalls that Ferrari F1 had the big challenge of regaining its glorious days, so people were telling themselves never to participate in Ferrari F1.

It was a long process, but it eventually led to one of Ferrari’s most dominant eras in F1 history.

“Everyone was telling me that I shouldn’t go. It’s an impossible mission, but that made me want to try it.”

“It wasn’t easy. It took me a long time to arrive because I joined Ferrari on July 1, 1993 and won the first Constructors’ World Championship in 1999. With Michael the next season. Won the first Drivers’ World Championship. “

“And before those achievements, I thought many times. Oh, they were right. We would never achieve it.”

Category: Category: F1 / Ayrton Senna / Ferrari