User reviews

The Netflix Senna series is a production that aims to portray Ayrton Senna's essence, not just as a driver, but as a cultural and sporting icon. Over six episodes, we are transported into a visual and emotional journey through the trajectory of one of Brazil's greatest heroes.

Technically, Senna shines with masterfully filmed racing scenes, bringing an intensity and realism that places the viewer right on the track, with each turn, acceleration, and overtaking vibrating on the screen. The sound of engines and the use of tight angles recreate the adrenaline of Formula 1 races with impressive authenticity. For those who grew up watching Senna's magical Sundays, the series manages to evoke that nostalgia, almost as if he were competing again.

Gabriel Leone's performance as Ayrton Senna is one of the production's greatest strengths. Leone does not merely imitate Senna, but embodies his essence: the passion for motorsports, his almost obsessive perfectionism, and the spiritual connection he had with what he did. Even in the most intimate and silent moments, Leone delivers nuances that humanize the legend without diminishing his brilliance.

While some critics have pointed out limitations in the dramatic development of secondary characters, it's important to recognize what Senna is: a visual and emotional tribute to the driver's legacy. The series does not aim to be a documentary, but a dramatized narrative that captures Senna's cultural impact and revives his presence in the collective imagination. In this sense, the approach works as a tribute, full of reverence and emotion.

Senna is not just a story; it's an experience. For those who remember the joy of seeing him win, this series is a gateway to the past. For new generations, it is an introduction to what made Ayrton Senna more than just a driver - a legend.

I call this show the FW16 of biopics because just like the car Senna was killed in, it was good but, umm...

OK, positives first. By and large, they got Senna's uncompromising nature right, especially by way of illustrating his team principals' exasperation. Attention to detail was brilliant; seeing MP4/4s race sent chills up my spine, but that shot of Senna alone in the briefing room at the end of Suzuka perfectly recreates the ITV shot from 1989.

I've seen another reviewer say that they story was one-sided. I agree, but then again, so what? The fans who followed the shenanigans in 1989 to 1993 would be familiar with the French Connection, if they didn't outright believe in its gospel truth. This is obviously a show for Senna fans, not Balestre apologists.

That said, there were a few things that the scriptwriters could have paid attention to:

1) Including Senna's personal relationships with people like Gerhard Berger and Josef Leberer would have gone a long way to humanising him;

2) They could have placed much more emphasis on the work Senna put into developing the car - he had a reputation for providing his mechanics with feedback until they begged to go home; and

3) Donnington 1993 - I can't believe they completely ignored the greatest single lap in all F1 history.

I was still young when the first Formula 1 race came to Hungary... I was there and watched in amazement a black and gold car as a young driver dismissed famous great drivers one after another. I will never forget how I saw in this driver the fighting spirit, the love of racing. I loved him from the first moment... Since 1986 I have been an unwavering fan of Ayrton Senna, the best racing driver the world has ever seen. I saw every race he did after him... I was personally there among the enthusiastic audience at many races. I read every available newspaper article, news, book about him that I could. His accident and death really affected me... I didn't watch Formula 1 racing for years afterwards. In recent years I have started watching Formula 1 races on TV again... It is very different from when he was there. Of course, this is a different generation. I miss the passion, the desire to win, the heroism that I saw in him every minute he was in the car. Ayrton Senna is a three-time world champion. Others may have more world championship titles, but they will never be as iconic as SENNA.

He was the best... He is still the best!

Firstly, while opinions on historical accuracy can vary, one cannot overlook the profound impact Ayrton Senna had on Brazil and its people. Beyond his undeniable talent and charisma on the racetrack, Senna was-and remains-a unifying symbol for a nation often divided by social, economic, and political differences. At a time when Brazil faced immense challenges, he brought hope, pride, and a rare sense of togetherness. Even today, in an era marked by political polarization, Senna's legacy continues to transcend these divisions, making him one of the few figures that all Brazilians can celebrate.

As for the series itself, it is a masterpiece of storytelling and production. The cinematography, acting, and attention to detail set a new standard for Brazilian series, making it arguably the best ever produced in the country. It captures not just the man behind the wheel, but the cultural phenomenon that Senna became. While dramatization is inevitable in such works, it serves to highlight the emotional and historical resonance of Senna's journey, rather than detract from it.

Ultimately, the series is not meant to be a documentary but a tribute to a man who inspired millions. It succeeds in evoking the passion, dedication, and human connection that defined Ayrton Senna-a man whose story deserves to be remembered and celebrated.

Well at the moment it is the best Biopic Series on Streaming service Netflix with is Brazilian partner centers the bullseye!

The acting is great the storie telling is so accurate that it's as you where there in this moment. I had so many back flashes seeing the iconic races and it brought me back in time. I was and still am a Senna Fan, and I cryed a lot when he died that for many ears I didn't watch any F1 race.

To make a point it is a must watch for F1 fans and for the senna fans it is a come alive of those moments that made is fall in love not only with the driver he was but for the human. He is a Rolle Modell of an athlete and sportsman!

Like he always said "it's pure racing!"

Senna was and still is a hero for Brazil, actually for many people in the world in different countries. The best racer of all time and his story is beautiful, he was a wonderful and respectful man. I am Brazilian and I live in United States, I wish people here watch more productions from other countries...seriously you guys lose so many wonderful stories from Brazil, Norway, France..just because "oh I don't like voiceover...but I don't like read the captions either" this limited a lot. US productions are incredible too but sometimes it's like the same as always. You guys won't retreat to watch other cultures, visions, new worlds! Netflix have a lot of Brazilian productions, it's the 2nd biggest country on Netflix after US.

EN Translate: I am a 23 year old Turk and I started watching F1 this season and after seeing that it was a much bigger competition than my favorite sport, football, I started to like it more than football. Then I heard about Senna. I was eagerly waiting for this series to air so that I could get to know him better. I finished the series in one sitting and liked it very much. The acting, the camera transitions, everything was made into an engaging series. Later, when I watched the behind the scenes and saw the cars being made, I realized that I never asked myself where these cars came from. There is an incredible amount of effort in the series. We, the normal viewers, usually don't even notice these things. I may not have written a review for a series before, but I wanted to write for this one. I don't get emotional easily in a series, but I had a hard time holding myself back in this one. You managed to take me into a world I hadn't experienced. You introduced this legend to my generation and maybe the next generations will get to know him thanks to you. Congratulations, you really did a great job.

Having spectated at some of the non-F1 races depicted in this series, I feel it necessary to correct perceptions that poor research might otherwise lead to.

Firstly, the Snetterton race track and Norwich are situated in Norfolk - the flattest region of the UK. The fact that Norfolk, England is introduced with a scene of mountains of sufficient height to generate their own weather is akin to introducing the world to Sao Paulo against an image of crisp, white snow.

Secondly, those Formula Ford and F3 races fall under the category of 'Club Racing' where spectator numbers were and still are counted in the 100s or low 1000s at best and comprise dull middle-aged blokes sat on fold up chairs with a flask of tea or dull young men with a bored girlfriend in tow (me). 'Spectators' not 'fans' but fans of the sport. What you won't find is shirtless, rabid cage-fighting type morons that would even look out of place on the terraces of a Millwall / West Ham game.

I do find it remarkable that an otherwise well presented, well researched production falls short on these things. They do make a difference. All it would have taken is to hire Kieth Sutton to have corrected the visions assumed in the programme.

But otherwise, an enjoyable and immersive journey though the great Man's life and career.

For all that say "this is a one-sided story", do you also think Amadeus is a one-sided story? Is also Ford vs Ferrari? Maybe people don't relate because they saw this happen by other perspective, by another narrative. Now think, if your brother go into a fight, would you ever ask him why or would you just jump into it to protect him? That's how I feel now, i don't really care who was to blame back then, i know one thing, that boy watching races in the middle of the night, that boy chanting "Senna Senna", that boy crying because his hero died was also me. I was born few years before he became a F1 champion, and every sunday i was there to watch him racing his life away.

We brazilian watched one of ours becoming the greatest F1 driver of all time, carrying our flag, telling everyone he had all his people in that car, finishing that race in first place. I'm sorry for all those who don't know how it feels to hear out loud from that character named Galvão Bueno saying "AYRTON SENNA DO BRASIL, CAMPEÃO MUNDIAL DE FORMULA 1" ("Ayrton Senna of Brazil, Formula One world champion") and that song that played in the series, played in many of our weekends for some years, a shame it didn't last longer. I, as a little boy, wish it had endured for an eternity. I cried at the end like I cried in 94, my childhood hero has became a myth, who cares if they didn't tell the exact truth, i lived to see it, watching the series made me felt like I had felt back then, and the series brought back all those joyfull and sad emotions.

It is quite obvious that the Senna - Da Silva family had a hand in this, and a very strict one at that. Senna is described as a saint. He's always kind and nice and puts up with everything that's done to him. That's boring and superficial. There are no conflicts except with Prost and Balestre.

The dialog is so incredibly flat, any daily soap is literature by comparison. I want to be first. He's the best. I'm the fastest. I want to win. But that's dangerous! But I want to win. But you've already won. But I want to win again.

What about Senna's women's stories? That would have had potential. Didn't he have any vices? People like that don't exist. But when his mother is involved in writing the script ...

His parents also come across as saints. Always understanding, always patient, kind, indulgent and noble. Yes, of course.

The action pictures are top-notch, though. Not completely groundbreaking, but very impressive. Especially the sound design was awesome.

Being a huge Formula 1 fan and having watched the events portrayed in the series live on TV, my expectations were huge, maybe only eclipsed by the fear that the series would fail miserably.

I binge-watched the series over two days and the end-verdict is that paradoxically the series managed to both reach my high expectations and fail at the same time.

From a production standpoint, the scenes are stunning and the meticulous attention to detail is something that made me think of classics such as "Grand Prix" and "Rush". Racing sequences were a blast to watch, and I felt like I was watching something that had actually been captured in the 80s, only in 4K. Thrilling stuff.

Also incredible was the casting and the acting, specifically Leone's almost supernatural reincarnation of the driver - at times it was hard to believe it was not actually Senna in the scenes. And Matt Mella didn't disappoint either as the Brazilian's nemesis Alain Prost.

So why 5 stars? Why the "meh" rating?

For those who are not Brazilian like me, I think some context may be necessary here. Even before his death, Senna was becoming something of a national hero. He got people of all ages and classes to wake up early on Sundays in order to watch him snatch another victory, and the media - in particular commentator Galvão Bueno, who is also brilliantly played by actor Gabriel Louchard in the series - elevated the driver to an almost superhuman status.

After his death, this superhuman evolved into a godlike figure, the epitome of perfection, determination and professionalism, and to this day, 30 years after that fateful day in Imola, the typical Brazilian fan will be keen to remind you that there has never been a better driver before or after Senna, and there never will be.

For someone who loves the sport as I do, this is truly suffocating, and I felt that this series had the massive opportunity of doing away with this fictitious god image and bringing the actual man to the limelight.

An opportunity to obviously showcase the truly remarkable attributes Senna had on track, but also to portray the complex and somewhat tortured personality that existed under the helmet. Sadly, the series did not take that opportunity.

I soon realised that I'd have to conform to the narrative force-fed by Galvão Bueno in each and every race I watched in the 80's and 90's. The best driver in history, a humble and lonely Brazilian kid, having to take on a Eurocentric racing association, armed solely with his Jesus-like sense of justice and unparalleled talent.

I do find it curious though, that this bias doesn't appear to have affected the likes of Emerson Fittipaldi and Nelson Piquet, who had similarly come from Brazil to try their luck in Europe before Senna, and still managed to bag 5 F1 titles between them (not to mention Pace, who also had a F1 victory for Brabham). Go figure.

In the series of David versus Goliath, Senna is always in the right. His mistakes are seldom shown, and in the rare occasions in which they are, they never seem to be his fault. Yes, he crashed in Monaco when he was over a minute ahead of his teammate, but that was Ron Dennis' fault for breaking his concentration on the radio.

This sparked in me an uneasy feeling of déjà vu, and I felt like I was watching a race being commentated by Bueno in the 80s. Yes, Senna crashed whilst overtaking Schlesser in a chicane when the race was all but won, but that was Schlesser's fault, who should have moved out of the way. Yes, Senna barged into Nakajima at Interlagos and failed to get that elusive first victory in Brazil, but that was because Nakajima was a terrible driver and shouldn't be racing in the first place.

Really, really tiring...

Another thing I was curious to see in the series was how they were going to tackle the incendiary Piquet-Senna conflict that was took the Brazilian media by storm in the late 80's and literally split the county between Piquet and Senna fans. What we got was Piquet supposedly snubbing Senna at the Monaco gala for a grand total of 3 or 4 seconds, tops. Another wasted opportunity.

Also, Senna's relationships are portrayed in a cheesy and soap-opery manner, and felt more like filler than something that added depth to the character. It all felt strangely unbalanced. Whilst we had almost an entire episode focusing on his involvement with TV star Xuxa, the series dedicated a mere 5 minutes to Adriane Galisteu, who was with him for the last year and a half of his life. Not sure what happened there...

But I'm not going to address the historical inaccuracies - of which there were many - since we are bound to have these in any biopic and you can't really blame the producers for wanting to tweak reality to make the story more interesting.

I will however mention the inclusion of a fictional character - Laura Harrison - as the most distracting and cringe-worthy addition to the whole series. Kaya Scodelario's acting is atrocious - paraphrasing my son, who watched the series with me, every time she appeared on screen I just clenched my teeth and kept hoping the scene would be over quickly.

And even if we put the bad acting aside, the actual character appears to have been included merely to spit out exposition to the viewer and to reflect how the world media was going on a crusade to slam Senna. Once more, it's "us against them".

Interestingly enough, the way Senna stops talking to her at a certain point in the series is based on something that actually happened - Senna cut ties with fellow commentator Reginaldo Leme (who is criminally relegated to a mere sidekick to Galvão Bueno in the series) because he felt that the commentator was siding up with Piquet against him. Could have been interesting to see that in the series, but what we got was this one-dimensional expressionless exposition machine instead.

Anyway, to wrap it up since this is starting to resemble an extended essay, would I recommend the series? The answer may seem surprising given my passionate ramblings above, but yes.

If you're a die-hard Senna fan and are eager to see a lone hero rise up against a sea of troubles and use his superhuman talents to overthrow the cynical and xenophobic machine that was the FIA, you'll have the time of your life.

If however, you just wanted the chance to dive deeper into who Ayrton Senna was as a human being and what made him into the relentless and talented driver he became, you'll more likely than not be disappointed, because there simply isn't depth to the story at all.

Either way, the spectacular visuals and the mind-boggling attention to every detail make this an experience worth having. Scenes such as the 1984 Monaco GP and the iconic first victory in Brazil transcend film and are real works of art. So definitely worth a shot.

I for one am pretty sure I'll be watching the series again. But this time I'll just be sure to have my finger on the remote to fast-forward all the scenes with Laura Harrison (which will also probably cut the run time to about an hour, so it's a win-win...)

Starting with this review of the series Senna, I'll begin by talking about the cast, especially the choice of Gabriel Leone for the role. He is an actor on the rise, and this was undoubtedly the biggest role of his career. I believe he will go on to make great films with prominent directors because he has immense talent. However, there is no greater honor than portraying a national idol and hero. Other cast members also skillfully brought their characters to life, transporting us to a bygone era with Galvão Bueno's narrations and the golden age of Xuxa.

The production of the series is flawless, and honestly, Netflix made an excellent decision by investing everything to ensure the series was not only a national success but also an international one. I made a point of watching the making-of, and it's sensational-surreal for a Brazilian series. The work on audio capture, the creation of cars and racing suits identical to those of the time, and the excellent CGI work were all outstanding.

I wasn't born during Senna's time, but I knew of his importance to our country. However, I didn't fully grasp the extent of his achievements or his story. Watching the series gave me that understanding. Senna's emotional story moves us, from his childhood to the tragic accident. Senna is gone, but his legacy remains, and thanks to this series, it will be etched in the minds of future generations.

The only critique, which didn't affect my final rating but is worth mentioning, is regarding certain indecent scenes that didn't need to be included. The series should have been made to watch openly with family, and I believe this was a mistake.

But overall, it's a 10/10. Thank you to everyone involved!

The miniseries features highly detailed elements, very well-done photography, sets, costumes and memories of the time that transport us to that time, both inside and outside the racetracks. The editing and agile camera movements are very good and precise and manage to convey the sensation of movement and speed, capturing the attention of the viewer and increasing their immersion. The miniseries was very concerned with the cinematography, whether in the distribution of objects in the scene, as well as in the colors and properly placed lighting. Darker moments of tension and almost chiaroscuro and very bright moments of joy. If we realize, the miniseries brings a message and immersion much greater than we might expect.

I have been following F1 since 1989 and I have watched every single race since then, to this very day. I am a Honda fan, was with Honda before Ayrton started using their engines.

This show uses actual footage of the races. It managed to portray both the intrigues and the dirty games Balestre played on Senna in favor of Prost.

It did not show how close Senna was to Soichiro Honda and the connection Senna shared with the Japanese manufacturer, but it did imply it. Senna was a Honda driver and Prost was a McLaren driver.

It could have been slightly more epic so younger audience could get a better feel and understanding of what Senna meant not only for F1, but for Sports in general. He was a force of nature, highly ethical off track but a beast on it.

For us who have lived those days, we cherish the memories and carry his legacy on.

I didn't cancel Netflix because of the wait for this series and honestly it was worth it and I'll give another vote of confidence to Netflix, because it's these contents that made them have so many subscribers, the series is very good, several emotional scenes that touched me a lot, the scenarios are great, the dialogues, very happy to see my country make a series like this. Overall, No series will be able to represent with total fidelity who Ayrton Senna was for Formula 1 fans, but the series is very worthwhile for today's young people who have never seen a true national and world hero who is no longer made today! That's why the series is really worth it! Perfect.

The Senna series (Netflix, 2024) is a powerful tribute to the life and trajectory of Ayrton Senna, one of the greatest icons of world motorsport. With Gabriel Leone in the main role, the production delves into the essence of the driver, from his first races to the most exciting and difficult moments of his Formula 1 career. The drama not only explores his achievements on the tracks, but also reveals more intimate aspects of his personality and life outside the sport.

Directed by Vicente Amorim, the series captures both the intensity of the rivalries, as with Alain Prost, and the determination that made Senna a legend.

The filming was carried out in striking places, such as São Paulo, Angra dos Reis and even the United Kingdom, which brings an exciting realism. More than a series of races, Senna is a celebration of the legacy of a Brazilian hero who marked the world.

The first two or three episodes in this 6-part miniseries suffer from egregious pacing issues, and poorly written dialogue. Time absolutely flies in these episodes, and we are introduced to - what feels like - dozens upon dozens of characters. It's way too fast, and the scripts simply were not up to the challenge. Most of the dialogue is extremely matter-of-fact, made to get to the point and drive the plot forward as fast as possible. New characters get a camera pointed at them, and their name shown in writing, because the writers couldn't find a way to introduce them naturally through conversation or in a worthy scene. It feels like actors were given zero tolerance for adlibbing or going with the flow, being forced to say every syllable of poorly written lines, resulting in rigid conversations between characters.

A lot of the early pre F1 races have race commentary that feels extremely out of place, in an obvious attempt to guide the viewer, when no guiding was ever needed (the cinematography was always enough).

Thankfully this begins to change after Senna starts his F1 career. My guess is the production simply had better, real material to work with, as these events were all heavily documented. Race commentary stops being a bother, because the broadcasts were all faithfully recreated. Dialogue starts to flow better, because the show wasn't hell bent on introducing 12 characters per minute. And the production value gets a major upgrade, as we start hearing the roar from the F1 engines we've always known.

The pacing also stops being a major issue in the last 3 episodes. It no longer feels like you're travelling 40 years into the future every time you press play, and the buildup and anticipation for the events we all know about help make the last 3 hours feel more epic.

Overall, this is a tale of two halves. Jekyll and Hyde. Yin and Yang. It starts as a 6, it finishes as an 8. Averages out as a 7. It could have used at least 2 more episodes to help with the pacing in the first half. It's a good dramatization of Senna's life, but not even close to the best Senna production, which is the 2010 feature-length documentary that shares the same title.

Very well done show about a national hero! Loved the visuals and the racing scenes. A must watch.

Wish the dialogues were better though, i noticed too much exposition. But its ok.

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The first episodes are excellent, evoking nostalgia and making me cry. The racing scenes, paired with the actor playing Galvão Bueno, captured the magic I felt as a kid. Early on, Senna is shown as human, making mistakes, but once he joins McLaren, he's portrayed almost as a god-like figure, with amusing X-Men-style effects dramatizing his vision on the track. The show misses key elements: Senna's deep friendship with Gerhard Berger is barely explored, and his reconciliation with Prost is weak and inaccurately placed at Imola. Reginaldo Leme, crucial to Senna's early career, is reduced to the background. While nostalgic, it misses opportunities to humanize Senna further.

So, so disappointed with this series. It could have been something special and truthful but it turns Senna into a two dimensional Disney hero.

Senna was a legendary F1 driver and the truth of his life is plenty fine for a mini-series like this, but we don't get the truth and I think that is really disrespectful. I realise it is a drama not a documentary but it is so biased and goes out of its way to misrepresent what actually happened it is quite infuriating if you know the truth.

The rivalry with Prost (portrayed barely as a one dimensional character) is twisted, spun and reduced down to something quite pathetic. Whereas the reality was it was one of the best and most intense rivalries the sport has ever seen. Two of the very best F1 drivers ever to race were in the same team and they were so different but both genius drivers. This TV show portrays Prost so insultingly it is hugely disrespectful not just to Prost but to the truth. There are so many things that are shown during the 1988 and 1989 season that did not happen that way in reality. They are all spun to make either Prost look bad or that Senna was not at fault.

Senna in this show has no flaws and this is just not the truth. He was a great man but he was flawed, just like any other human and this show does not show it. Also, a big problem is that I just don't believe the character is Senna, it is lacking what he was really like, it is not a good imitation.

This could have been something really great but its a PR fluff piece to further the Senna 'myth'. The truth was actually great and legendary, why can't we stick with that?

This series is incredible. The setting and costumes are outstanding. They recreated various cars specifically for the show and even rebuilt famous tracks from scratch. The actors are incredibly similar to their real-life counterparts, delivering performances that captivate you from beginning to end.

The visuals and direction perfectly capture the intensity and passion of Ayrton Senna's journey, immersing viewers in the thrilling world of Formula 1. Each episode is crafted with care, showcasing not just the races but also Senna's personal struggles and triumphs, making it deeply emotional and inspiring.

I never had a chance to see senna drive live, i wasn't even born. Many times i've heard he was the best to ever drive on a track, and even when i watched videos of him i wouldn't understand what they were saying, and what was all the hype about. Watching lewis, fernando, sebastian and others was what i really thought were the best, great drivers, beast, real talents. When i saw the series popping up on netflix as a suggestion i didn't resist to check it out. Its not like any other new series... a lot of things were on point, i learned a lot about this great driver, and i fell in love with him, his racing, his values. He went by a lot of names, ayrton, beco, da silva, senna. Hero is what suits him the best. Even after his death, his legacy still goes on. Children in brazil are thankful for his work. Drivers on the track are thankful for his work. A lot of people say they would be happy to see him drive. I know he still drives. Every sunday he is still with us on that track. Obrigado Ayrton.