Damon Hill says he believes Ayrton Senna was responsible for the crash that claimed his life in 1994. Three-time world champion Senna smashed into the wall at the first corner at Imola on May 1, 1994, and died at the age of 34. Hill, his Williams team-mate at the time, told The Times newspaper he believes there was nothing wrong with the car they both were driving.
"I am convinced that he made a mistake, but many people will never believe that he could," said Hill. "Why not? He made many mistakes in his career." Senna crashed at the relatively straight-forward Tamburello corner, and Hill believes his team-mate simply took the corner too fast.
"He was identified with pushing to the limit and beyond. He would often prefer to crash into his opponent rather than be defeated."
But he recognises he is tilting at one of motor racing's untouchable legends."These opinions are sacrilege in the world of driving gods. Ayrton was a great driver and a man with enormous humanity. He was not a god. He was as frail and vulnerable as you or I."
And he dismisses all the theories that something was wrong with Senna's car."It was not the fault of anyone else that he kept his foot flat when he could have lifted," said Hill.
Filed by Barry J Whyte
