Ayrton Senna Special: Extra 2: Trashtalk (1988)

At the start of the 1988 season, Brazil had two drivers who would compete for the world title. Ayrton Senna and Nelson Piquet. Piquet had switched to Lotus after his world title success the year before, while Senna went from Lotus to McLaren. In our report on Gérard Ducarouge, we talked about the character attack that Piquet committed against Senna in the Lotus factory. 

Who started it? Who opened fire? Did both go beyond what was necessary? The fact remains that from Piquet's point of view, Senna has always been looked at in a 'negative' way. The darkening of the other with the accompanying insinuations already started before Ayrton's Formula 1 career. At the beginning of the eighties, Piquet called Senna 'the taxi driver' from Sao Paulo. 

The first real confrontation came in 1983 when, according to Senna, Piquet had insisted that the Brabham, which Ayrton would test on Paul Ricard, should be sabotaged by the mechanics.

Early April 1988 was the first Formula 1 weekend of the season in Rio de Janeiro. At the circuit, the expectations were high for both Brazilians. Senna started with the first provocation towards Piquet. When asked by reporter Sérgio Rodrigues why Ayrton hadn't spoken to the press for so long, he answered: "I had to give Piquet the chance to have his say.

"It is, of course, no fun for a three-time world champion that I am always in the centre of attention. Because nobody likes him, this was the only way for me to let him speak again." Although it was very clear that Ayrton told this with a witticism and had no other bad intentions with it, Piquet's remarks were wrong.

Piquet decided to hire a Brazilian journalist friend named Eloir Maciel. He wrote an article in the newspaper with the name: "Piquet reopens the private war with Senna". Piquet's quote: "Senna didn't speak to the press in Brazil because he didn't want to explain that he doesn't like women", was a remark that was heavy under the 'beltline'. Piquet had already fought with Nigel Mansell one season earlier, by terribly insulting his wife. Piquet's statement about Senna's private life in the paddock was mistaken for 'truth' in the Brazilian media. Especially since Ayrton was separated from his then-wife Adriane Yamin at the beginning of his racing career. 

Eloir Maciel wrote, among other things, that Ayrton, at the time of his marriage, would have had several relationships. All this on the basis of the information that the journalist of Nelson Piquet would have received. There was also a story from Piquet that Ayrton's facial paralysis (to which we paid attention in an earlier report), would have come from sexual intercourse with women and men. 

Ayrton threatened a court case against Piquet which was called for clarification. Piquet minimized the story and his lawyer Geraldo Gordilho claimed that there was a misinterpretation. In the area of justice, the case did not go any further and finally both decided to focus on their home race.

Ayrton Senna Special: Part 1 - Ayrton and karting - The early years
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 2 - Ayrton and karting - International
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 3 - Ayrton and karting - The tough trip in Buenos Aires
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 4 - Ayrton and karting - The last race
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 5 - Ayrton in Europe - Formula Ford 1600 and the battle with Rick Morris
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 6 - Ayrton in Europe - A glorious year in Formula Ford 200
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 7 - Ayrton in British Formula 3 - Senna in a class of his own
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 8 - Ayrton in British Formula 3 - First signs of pressure and dirt game 
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 9 - Ayrton in British Formula 3 - Shame at Oulton Park and another title
Ayrton Senna Special Exclusive Interview: Allen Berg: Ayrton drove against the British system
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 10 - Ayrton as a test driver - The first experience in a Formula 1 car
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 11 - Ayrton as a test driver - A selection of different teams
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 12 - Ayrton at Toleman - Why the choice for Toleman was the right one
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 13 - Ayrton at Toleman - Monaco Grand Prix - Stefan was faster
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 14 - Ayrton at Toleman - Monaco Grand Prix - Post-race
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 15 - Ayrton at Toleman - Competitive in a new car with two podiums
Ayrton Senna Special: Technical Analysis 1: The Toleman TG183 (1984)
Ayrton Senna Special: Teammate 1: Johnny Cecotto
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 16 - Ayrton at Lotus - Facial Paralysis
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 17 - Ayrton at Lotus - Masterclass in Estoril
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 18 - Ayrton at Lotus - An unfortunate first half of the season
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 19 - Ayrton at Lotus - Many podiums and a victory at Spa-Francorchamps
Ayrton Senna Special: Technical Analysis 2: The Lotus 972
Ayrton Senna Special: Teammate 2: Elio 'The Gentleman'
Ayrton Senna Special: Extra 1: Veto 1
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 20 - Second year at Lotus - Titanium competition with Nigel Mansell
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 21 - Second year at Lotus- A good start and the lead in the championship after Detroit (1986)
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 22 - Second year at Lotus - Decay in the second half of the season (1986)
Ayrton Senna Special: Teammates 3: John Crichton-Stuart, 7th Marquess of Bute (1986) 
Ayrton Senna Special: Extra 2 - Gérard Ducarouge - Designer of Ayrton's winning Lotus (1986)
Ayrton Senna Special: Exclusive Interview 1: Allard Kalff: 'I still honour Roland on April 30'.
Ayrton Senna Special: Exclusive Interview 2: Allard Kalff: "I only saw at Linate Airport that Ayrton had died"
Ayrton Senna Special: Exclusive Interview 3: Allard Kalff: "The accidents in 1994 were coincidence, in 1995 nothing happened"
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 23 - Last year at Lotus - Excellent season with the 1986 Honda engine (1987)
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 24 - Last year at Lotus - The victories at Monaco and Detroit (1987) 
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 25 - The beginning of an era - The contract at McLaren (1988)