A new Senna series is coming to Netflix
Netflix
Netflix’s Senna is a six-episode miniseries — set for release on November 29 2024 — which will aim to tell a dramatised version of Ayrton Senna‘s legendary yet tragic journey to the top of Formula 1.
The full trailer gives a glimpse of what could be in store, with the Brazilian — played by Gabriel Leone — seen sat in his McLaren MP4/6 ahead of his home grand prix in 1991, where he captured one of the most emotive victories of his entire career.
While leading from pole position to the chequered flag — wrestling a gearbox jammed in sixth gear throughout — the three-time world champion has flashbacks to other renowned moments in his F1 career. Ron Dennis — played by Patrick Kennedy — looks on from the pit wall as Senna recalls his pitlane clashes with team-mate and rival Alain Prost (played by Matt Mella); his off-track romance with Brazilian actress and singer Xuxa Meneghel; the early stages of his F1 career with Toleman and Lotus; and his first experiences behind the wheel of a go-kart.
Live Brazilian commentary from the day as well as Senna’s own screams of delight bring the trailer to an emotional end, as the three-time world champion claims his one and only victory on home soil.
Senna will debut on Netflix on November 29 2024.
All six episodes are expected to be instantly available and may be available to stream from as early as 8am.
According to Netflix, the six-episode Senna series will aim to showcase the three-time world champion’s entire single-seater racing career — starting in 1981 when he moved to England to compete in Formula Ford.
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It could then detail his rise through the ranks, as Senna competed first in Formula 3 — where he endured a brilliant title battle with Martin Brundle — before jumping to Toleman for his first Formula 1 start in 1984.
The Brazilian’s epic drive at the 1984 Monaco GP could be one of the early episode’s focal points, as his TG183B is spotted plowing through the rain on its way to second-place in the series’ official trailer.
The series will then follow Senna to Lotus in 1985, where he earns his first grand prix victory in Portugal, before he then becomes a title-contender with McLaren in 1988.
From there, his heated rivalry with Alain Prost is likely to take centre stage, with Senna spotted calling the Frenchman a “coward” in the trailer and later tells him to “get back on your side” of the garage during a physical exchange. Their title-deciding crashes at the 1989 and 1990 Japanese Grand Prix could be major plot points.
Senna and Prost’s famous battles are set to be reimagined
Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP via Getty Images
Away from the circuit, Netflix has also confirmed that parts of Senna’s personal life will be detailed as a way of “unveiling his personality”. Despite being a decorated and beloved champion, Senna found himself in a near-constant war with numerous influential figures throughout his career including Prost and FIA president Jean-Marie Balestre — who is played by Arnaud Viard.
Netflix has seemingly addressed Senna’s attitude toward the conflicts, as in trailer he is shown speaking at a press conference where he tells journalists that he “will not run away from the fight”.
The series will finish at the infamous 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, where Senna — now driving for Williams — and fellow racing driver Roland Ratzenberger suffered fatal crashes.
Senna is set to contain a plethora of influential figures from the Brazilian’s life.
Obvious inclusions are characters such as Alain Prost, Ron Dennis and Jean-Marie Balestre as well as Senna’s parents Neide and Miltão.
But after a look at the cast list below, it seems Netflix are holding little back in providing a detailed insight into Senna’s life, with almost every on-track rival, partner, friend and team boss included.
| Role | Actor |
| Ayrton Senna | Gabriel Leone |
| Alain Prost | Matt Mella |
| Ron Dennis | Patrick Kennedy |
| Niki Lauda | Johannes Heinrichs |
| Frank Williams | Steven Mackintosh |
| Rubens Barrichello | João Maestri |
| Roland Ratzenberger | Lucca Messer |
| Nelson Piquet | Hugo Bonemer |
| Jean-Marie Balestre | Arnaud Viard |
| Viviane Senna | Camila Márdila |
| Neide Senna | Susana Ribeiro |
| Miltão (Senna) | Marco Ricca |
| Xuxa Meneghel | Pâmela Tomé |
| Galvão Bueno | Gabriel Louchard |
Senna will be co-directed by award-winning Brazilian filmmakers Vicente Amorim and Julia Rezende and will be produced by Brazilian production company Gullane.
Gullane was founded in 1996 by brothers Caio and Fabiano Gullane and has produced more than 40 films and 20 television series.
Filming was scheduled to begin in September 2020, but after the worldwide effects of Covid-19 delayed production by over two years, Senna shoots only started again in 2021 — with the majority of footage captured in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.
