Ayrton Senna is arguably the most famous racing driver there has ever been. He is revered all over the world, with a reputation extending far beyond awe at his skills on the race circuit. Senna, the 2010 film of his life, verged on the hagiographic, painting him as a beloved child of God put on earth to fight injustice and help those less fortunate than himself. But was his reputation disproportionately burnished because he died, aged only 34, in front of millions of TV viewers, thus sealing his reputation as the messianic martyr of motor racing? This new and original biography looks at both Ayrton da Silva, the softly-spoken and introspective man, and Ayrton Senna, the aggressive, ruthless and brilliant driver: distinct entities that often struggled to co-exist peacefully. It asks why, of all the great drivers Formula One has nurtured, Senna attracts the most fervent following.