Mr E pays tribute to Senna.
Ayrton Senna was better than Michael Schumacher, that's the verdict of Bernie Ecclestone, F1's 'Mr Big'.
Speaking to British newspaper, The Independent, in the build-up to this weekend's San Marino Grand Prix, which marks the tenth anniversary of the death of the late great Brazilian, and Roland Ratzenberger, Mr. E. noted that although it is difficult to compare different eras, if he was pushed, his money would be on Senna - rather than Schumi - if they were both in the same car.
Ayrton Senna was better than Michael Schumacher, that's the verdict of Bernie Ecclestone, F1's 'Mr Big'.
Speaking to British newspaper, The Independent, in the build-up to this weekend's San Marino Grand Prix, which marks the tenth anniversary of the death of the late great Brazilian, and Roland Ratzenberger, Mr. E. noted that although it is difficult to compare different eras, if he was pushed, his money would be on Senna - rather than Schumi - if they were both in the same car.
"I think Michael is really, really super. But I think that Ayrton could have done as well or better than Michael has done, had he lived," said Ecclestone, "If he was still here with us, for sure he would have been as good as Michael, and because Ayrton would still have been winning, Michael would have won fewer races and championships.
"Obviously they were in different cars and different eras. But if they were in the same car, Ayrton would have been on top. Like I said, he would have won races that Michael couldn't have, though that might also have worked vice versa. But overall? My money would have been on Ayrton."
"Ayrton brought a lot to Formula One," continued Bernie, "And I think he would have liked the sport as it is today - apart from the qualifying! He would have hated this one-lap stuff, even though he would have been brilliant at it.
"You remember the old days, when maybe everyone had done three of their four runs and somebody had just beaten Ayrton's time? And out he would go and right at the end he would just beat them? Fantastic! He was just superb at that, and now of course the pole position history doesn't mean so much any more because nobody knows what fuel load everyone is running.
"What he was, was just incredibly self-confident. And he had this ability to concentrate completely on what he was doing. I think he had this ability to focus without thinking about it as much as Michael does, perhaps.
"Ayrton is one of those guys who will never be forgotten and he will keep his fans forever, not just as a driver but because of his qualities as a person."
