Minardi reflects on tragic 1994 San Marino GP: "For me, Senna is still alive"

Next week, Imola will mark 30 years since the deaths of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, with Formula 1 chief and local Stefano Domenicali among those in attendance.

Ahead of the anniversary, RacingNews365 spoke with iconic team founder turned circuit president Giancarlo Minardi.

"May 1 is completely dedicated to the tragic deaths of both Senna and Ratzenberger," he exclusively tells RacingNews365.

"We spoke with Ratzenberger's parents, and together we decided that we want to commemorate both drivers on the same day.

"In the circuit museum, we will display Senna's Williams car, and helmets that he wore.

"There will be an exhibition of paintings of Senna, and then we will go to the inner grounds of the circuit, where ministers from Italy and Brazil will be present to commemorate both drivers."

Remembering Senna

In the aftermath of Imola 1994, safety changes were rushed through by the FIA, including to the cars themselves. This continues to the modern day with the invention of the halo - and Minardi believes that Senna's legacy lives on because of this.

"There should be a study on how Ayrton Senna is still so well-known 30 years after his death, not only among older people, but subsequent generations," he adds.

"Senna continues to live on from generation to generation, not only that people remember him, but because of people's interest.

"It seems like Senna died yesterday, these are my own thoughts as well. For me, in fact Senna never died, and that is because his death has had so much impact on the sport.

"Not only in F1, but also in the junior categories, a lot of changes have been made in terms of safety after his death, and for that, we should be very grateful.

"I was present on the tragic day he died, and that has still been the most terrible day of my career.

"After that, it has the case that drivers of different generations can now finally drive safer car, and because of that, in my mind, Senna is still alive."