Bruno Senna

Lore & Background

Born and raised in São Paulo, Senna is a nephew of three-time World Drivers' Champion Ayrton Senna. He made his debut in Formula One for HRT in 2010, raced for Renault from August 2011 as a replacement for Nick Heidfeld, and drove for the Williams team in 2012. Between 2014 and 2016, he drove for Mahindra in Formula E.

In Their Own Story

The rain lashed against the visor at Interlagos in November 2010. In the garage, the scent of cold fuel and wet rubber hung heavy. Bruno Senna ran a hand over the nose cone of the silver Mercedes MGP W01, feeling the vibration of the V8 engine through his boots. He wasn't just driving for himself today; he was driving for the name on his helmet that belonged to a god of the sport. The crowd's roar was a distant hum compared to the silence in his head where history and expectation collided. He climbed into the cockpit, tightened his belts, and looked up at the grandstands. For a moment, the car felt lighter, as if the weight of the past had finally been lifted by the sheer force of will.

Reader's Guide

Senna started karting at age five on the family farm, taught by his grandfather Milton and uncle Ayrton. His early career was halted after Ayrton's death in 1994 and his father's death in 1996. He competed in Formula BMW UK in 2004, British Formula Three from 2005 to 2006, GP2 Series from 2007 to 2008, and the Le Mans Series in 2009. He never drove for Mercedes in Formula One.

Did You Know?

• Senna's uncle Ayrton said in 1993: 'If you think I'm fast, just wait until you see my nephew.'
• In 2006, Senna set the Formula Three lap record at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, which as of 2016 remains the fastest non-F1 lap there.
• Senna won the GP2 Feature race at Monte Carlo in 2008, the first time the Senna name topped the leaderboards at the principality in 15 years.