Formula One:Bruno Senna has been given the full backing of his family to drive for Williams despite his legendary uncle losing his life whilst with the team 18 years ago.
Three-time Formula One world champion Ayrton Senna joined Williams Renault at the start of 1994, only to be killed in the third race of the campaign in San Marino on May 1st.
Coincidentally, for this season, Williams will again be powered by Renault engines for the first time since 1997 and in the cockpit will be Ayrton’s nephew Bruno, who today joined the Grove-based marque, believed to be on a one-year deal.
Despite the issues that surrounded Ayrton’s death, and as a finger of suspicion was pointed at Williams at the time, there are no ill feelings towards the team from the Senna family.
“I believe things happen in life for a reason,” said Bruno. “There is no resentment from my family. Everybody is absolutely thrilled, so there’s nothing negative. In fact, everybody is ecstatic. I spoke to my grandparents before I even spoke to my mother, and my grandmother was so happy, and my grandfather had a great smile.
“Everybody knows we’ve been fighting so hard for a chance in F1, and they’re thrilled Williams have given me this opportunity. There is a great unity in our family, and everybody is super happy about it.
“It’s a great pleasure for me to be driving for a team that has so much heritage and history in motor racing.
“Ayrton was here before, and there are many people here who were working when he was around. So it brings back some good memories, but hopefully we can create some good, new memories of our own, a good chapter in the history of the team.”