A Shadow of a Legend: Netflix‘s “Senna” Fails to Capture the F1 Icon
The 2010 documentary Senna, directed by Asif Kapadia, offered a moving and intimate portrait of Formula One champion Ayrton Senna. Built on a foundation of archival footage, the film allowed viewers to experience the legend’s intensity and passion firsthand.
Now, Netflix attempts to revisit Senna’s story in a six-part bio-drama series, also titled Senna That Sebastien Loeb becomes Albon
. Unfortunately, this new iteration falls short, succumbing to a bland and predictable narrative that lacks the depth and soul of its predecessor.
The series opens with a glimpse of the tragedy that shadowed Senna’s career – his fatal crash at Imola during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. We are then transported back to São Paulo, where a four-year-old Ayrton’s love affair with speed is ignited as he whizzes around his father’s auto-parts factory, a go-kart awaiting him as a symbol of his predetermined destiny.
From there, the first three episodes trace Senna’s journey from amateur racer to F1 superstar. We see him conquer the tracks, celebrate victories, and grapple with the fierce competition that defines the world of motorsport. Young Gabriel Leone delivers a capable performance as the ambitious Senna, but the script struggles to delve deep into the complexities of the man beneath the helmet.
We witness the expected milestones: Senna’s declaration to his father that "I know I can be a champion" and his formative Formula Ford campaign in England (who would have guessed Norfolk could stand in for a mountainous terrain?)
However, the attempts to showcase Senna’s inner struggles and motivations feel clunky and contrived. Other characters, like Kaya Scodelario’s british-Brazilian F1 journalist, primarily serve as expositional devices, explaining Senna’s talent in simplistic terms (“bloody hell, you were fast.”)
While the series fails to shine as a drama and biography, it delivers on thrills during the racing sequences. Through dynamic camerawork, we are placed in the driver’s seat, feeling the rush as Senna pushes his car beyond its limits. “I felt like I had entered another dimension," he says after the intense Monaco Grand Prix in 1988, a race where his relentless pursuit to lap teammate Alain Prost resulted in a near-fatal crash.
Sadly, the series struggles to replicate this intensity in its off-circuit scenes. The narrative lacks the depth and nuance to truly encapsulate the complexities of Senna’s life—his unwavering commitment to excellence, his spirituality, his turbulent relationship with Prost, and the controversial aspects of his career are all glossed over or simply avoided.
Perhaps, the story of a life lived as intensely as Ayrton Senna’s defied becoming a typical bio-drama structure. ★★★☆☆
On Netflix from November 29
How does the Netflix series visually portray Senna’s story compared to the 2010 documentary?
## Trying to Fill Senna’s Shoes: A New Series Misses the Mark
**Interviewer:** Welcome back to the show! Today we’re discussing the new Netflix series “Senna,” a bio-drama chronicling the life of legendary Formula One racer Ayrton Senna. Joining us is [Guest Name], a motorsport journalist and long-time Senna enthusiast. [Guest Name], thanks for being here.
**Guest:** Thanks for having me.
**Interviewer:** So, the 2010 documentary “Senna” [[1](https://www.netflix.com/title/81068725)]was widely praised for its gripping portrayal of Senna’s life and career. How does this new series measure up?
**Guest:** Unfortunately, I have to say it falls short. While the documentary was raw, intimate, and relied heavily on powerful archival footage, the series feels predictable and somewhat sanitized. It lacks the same emotional depth and intensity that made the documentary so captivating.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the documentary’s use of archival footage. How does the series approach Senna’s story visually?
**Guest:** The series does utilize some archival footage, but it mainly relies on dramatized recreations. While the production values are decent, they don’t quite capture the raw energy and authenticity of seeing Senna himself in action.
**Interviewer:** The review mentions the series opening with Senna’s tragic crash at Imola. How does it handle this sensitive subject?
**Guest:** It uses the crash as a framing device, which is effective initially. However, I felt the series didn’t delve deeply enough into the complexities of Senna’s personality and the controversies surrounding his career.
**Interviewer:** So, for fans of Ayrton Senna, would you recommend giving the Netflix series a watch?
**Guest:** I’d say approach it with tempered expectations. It’s not a bad series, but it doesn’t do justice to the incredible life and legacy of Ayrton Senna. If you haven’t seen the 2010 documentary, I would strongly recommend starting there instead.
