Jean Todt reveals why he had to block F1 legend Ayrton Senna from joining Ferrari

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Ferrari were the one Formula 1 team that Ayrton Senna never got to race for in his career. He wanted the move to Maranello in 1994, but it was blocked.

Beginning his career with Toleman in 1984, the Brazilian moved to Lotus the following year and then McLaren in 1988. He won his first championship that year and another two in 1990 and 1991.

But by 1992, Senna no longer had the dominant car. It was Williams who had the upper hand, with Nigel Mansell and arch rival Alain Prost winning the next two titles, prompting him to explore other options, with Ferrari being in his sights.

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This was not the first time that the Brazilian was linked with the Prancing Horse. Prost actually blocked Senna from joining Ferrari in 1991, with the team having planned to bring him in to replace Mansell.

His next opportunity to join the team came in 1993, as he met with Jean Todt to discuss a move for the 1994 season. However, as the Ferrari boss explains, this was not possible.

Jean Todt blocked Ayrton Senna from joining Ferrari in 1994 because Gerhard Berger and Jean Alesi were signed

Senna wanted to come to Ferrari in 1994, as Todt recalled on the High Performance Podcast. However, the team already had two drivers locked in for the season, in Gerhard Berger and Jean Alesi.

Therefore, Todt wanted Senna to join in 1995, but by then, he had already signed with Williams for 1994: “The first really dream driver I discussed was Ayrton Senna. It was during Monza Grand Prix in ‘93,” he said.

“I remember he came to my room, we were staying in the same hotel and we spent part of the night together to speak about him joining Ferrari and he wanted to come.

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“He wanted to come but he wanted to come in ’94, and in ‘94 we had already a contract with Gerhard Berger and Jean Alesi, and I said to him ‘94 will not be possible.

“First, we will not be ready yet, and then we have a contract, and he answered to me, Formula 1 contracts are not important’. I think for me a contract is important.

“I heard there were some contacts before me. But I cannot talk about, I don’t know, but I mean with me as the head of the Formula 1 team, it was a discussion in September ‘93 for him arriving in ’95, and he wanted to arrive in ‘94. That’s why he went to Williams.”

READ MORE: All to know about Alain Prost including Ayrton Senna rivalry and failed F1 team

Ayrton Senna wanted to finish his F1 career at Ferrari

It is widely understood that Senna wanted to finish his career at Ferrari. He regarded it as a dream move and wanted to enjoy success in Maranello.

In fact, Senna wanted to match Juan Manuel Fangio’s record of five championships with Williams before making the move to Ferrari. However, tragically, he would never get the chance as he lost his life in a crash at Imola in 1994.

Ferrari would not have a competitive car until around the 1996 season. The team gave Michael Schumacher the tools to fight for the championship, eventually winning five in a row between 2000 and 2004.