Senna Was Close to Joining Ferrari in ’94, But Jean Todt Now Clarifies Why He Didn’t.

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      When Scuderia Ferrari is mentioned, three figures immediately come to mind: Michael Schumacher, Jean Todt, and Ross Brawn. This legendary trio of Formula 1 broke records once thought unbreakable and, most importantly, set a new benchmark for performance in the sport. However, according to Todt, the dynamic duo could have been quite different if circumstances had shifted—Ayrton Senna could've been part of it.

      In a recent interview with the High Performance YouTube channel, the former Ferrari team principal and FIA president recounted a moment shared with the Brazilian icon that might have changed the trajectory of Scuderia Ferrari, the sport, and tragically, Senna's own life.

      “It was in Monza 1993, I remember he [Senna] came to my room at Villa d’Este,” Todt recounted during the discussion. “We were both staying at the same hotel, and we spent part of the night talking about him joining Ferrari. He wanted to come, he was eager, but he intended to join in 1994.”

      If you're aware of Senna's final year at McLaren, you understand he was emotionally and professionally conflicted regarding his future. Part of him wished to stay with McLaren, the team that had shaped the Senna legacy. Ron Dennis and Jo Ramirez tried to persuade him, but a team in decline without a clear future plan and a series of changing teammates didn't align with Senna's ambitions. All the while, his close friend Prof. Sid Watkins and girlfriend (thought to be fiancée) Adriane Galisteu were doing their utmost to convince the three-time F1 champion to retire or at least take a break.

      While rumors about Senna's pursuit of Ferrari have circulated for years, this is, to my knowledge, the first confirmed recounting of his interactions with the team.

      “In ‘94, we already had contracts with Gerhard Berger and Jean Alesi, and I told him, ‘1994 won’t be possible. We won't be ready yet, and we have those contracts in place.’

      “He replied, ‘In Formula 1, contracts are not significant.’ To which I said, ‘Yes, but for me, contracts are vital.’”

      According to Todt's account, it was evident that Senna was keen on joining Ferrari. Ferrari desired Senna too, but they were aiming for the 1995 season. Later in the conversation, he explained that Ferrari was in disarray. The team hadn't clinched victory in years, had an aging crew primarily from Italy who often blamed each other, and, ultimately, drivers were often held accountable for the team's failures.

      If Todt had been able to secure Senna for 1995, he could have mitigated the blame game. Unfortunately, despite Senna’s persistent efforts over several months of discussions—and Ferrari's strong inclination to sign him—the timing proved to be an obstacle. Senna ended up with Williams, and the rest is well-known history.

      “He wanted to join, but he was looking at 1994,” he elaborated. “Senna aspired to drive for Ferrari—I heard that Ferrari showed interest before that, and there were earlier discussions between them prior to my joining Ferrari, but I can't comment on what I don't know. But under my leadership of the Formula 1 team, this conversation occurred in September 1993 regarding his arrival in 1995—but he wished to arrive in 1994.

      “That’s why he chose Williams. Thus, in 1994, Ferrari retained the same drivers, but we were in the process of rebuilding the team. In 1995, we were still in that rebuilding phase and anticipated that 1996 would be the real opportunity to secure a star driver,” Todt stated.

      The remainder of the interview examines Todt’s initial connections with Schumacher and Willi Weber in 1995 and how they finalized a contract in Monaco after just 24 hours of negotiations. Schumacher eventually joined Ferrari in 1997. As many know, it was not a smooth start, but the achievements of these three will always stand out among the most dominant performances in not only F1 but all forms of competitive sports.

      Jean Todt: The Visionary Behind Ferrari and Schumacher’s Reigning Era

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