After 30 years, Vertappen succeeds Ayrton Senna in Imola

The comparison between Max Verstappen and Ayrton Senna has been made many times, but with his victory last weekend Verstappen actually succeeded the Brazilian. It was 30 years ago that Senna and Honda last won a Grand Prix on the circuit of Imola.

He won the San Marino Grand Prix three times, the last of which was in 1991. That was a record at the time and also the last victory for Honda as an engine supplier at this circuit.

Just like Verstappen in 2021, Senna dominated the race that year. McLaren Honda and Williams were indeed evenly matched during qualifying that weekend, but reliability problems at Williams and Ferrari drivers who were forced out of the race after just two laps meant that McLaren had the upper hand.

Senna and teammate Gerhard Berger were a lap or more behind the rest of the field. And it wasn't even raining! In this day and age that kind of difference is unthinkable. Of the 26 drivers who started the race, only ten made it to the finish.