Written by: TH on Friday 04th June 2010, 19:32
Spotlight On: Bruno Senna
Starting a motorsport career with a such a prominent surname, Bruno Senna was always going to be expected to replicate his late-uncle's prowess. But, although he successfully secured a Formula One drive for the 2010 and 2011 seasons, the Brazilian is yet to impress on the paddock as much as many had hoped.
Twenty one years of age is regarded by almost-all in the motorsport industry as a "late" point in which to begin a racing career as a motor vehicle driver. Even with a name such as "Senna", professionals on the Formula One grid are regularly expected to have begun their journey towards the pinnacle of motorsport in their early years, with many Formula One "greats" having started as early as five years old.
What stood out in Bruno was, however, occasional flashes of brilliance and his last name, which, unfortunately, brought him the most of the attention.
Sadly, Senna's early-career was largely-unimpressive, with the Brazilian failing to secure results which were naturally assumed of him. Senna's continuation as a motor-racing driver became largely-reliant on the influence of his family name.
It would take two years of racing commitment until Senna would eventually achieve results that put him in contention as a "rising star" of the motor-racing world, but, beginning his 2006 British Formula Three campaign with three-consecutive wins from the first race, Bruno's competitive edge gradually, and unfortunately, faded as races passed. In the next 19 events, Senna would achieve only two more wins and finished well-behind eventual series-winner, Mike Conway.
The following year, Senna would feature as a guest in the high-profile "Ferrari Challenge" series. Although not being able to gain classification for his performances, Senna quickly rose to the top, winning - and gaining pole position at - both of the races he was permitted to drive in. This outstanding achievement, along with a select few of his 2007 GP2 performances, quickly earned him praise in the eyes of his competitors, and was signed to drive for the reigning-GP2-champions, iSport for the 2008 season.
His drives in the following season showed far more mature performances than he had shown in 2007, with Senna acquiring two wins and seven podiums over the 20-race season, eventually placing second behind championship winner, and former Formula One pilot, Giorgio Pantano.
His performances earned him respect from the Formula One community, and the then-operational HondaF1 team supplied Senna with a test in the months following the 2008 Formula One Season.
The promised tests showed Senna's potential, with the Brazilian consistently only a few tenths adrift of Honda pilot, and eventual 2009 Formula One World Driver's Championship winner, Jenson Button. Senna's progress was hindered in the following weeks, however, as Honda pulled out of Formula One racing, leaving Senna with little-opportunity of a race seat for the 2009 season.
The introduction of a proposed four "new" teams to the 2010 Formula One grid gave Senna far greater potential of finding a racing seat for the following seasons. With 1Malaysia Lotus and Virgin Racing filling their positions (and with the USF1 team pulling out of the championship due to financial shortcomings), Senna was partnered with former GP2-teammate Karun Chandhok at the former-Campos Meta team, Hispanic Racing.
Although his past record partnering the Indian would suggest Senna's dominance over Chandhok would continue, the results in 2010 speak differently. In the first seven rounds of the season, Senna has failed to consistently outpace his teammate in qualifying, and has been consistently beaten in race scenarios.
The assumption that the "Senna" name would automatically ensure success has become grossly exaggerated. Bruno's driving has consistently been compared to his uncle's in ways that are unfair on a driver of his experience. However, whilst the Hispanic F110 is easily the most unimpressive vehicle on the grid, it is performances delivered whilst in struggling teams which show drivers as being potential stars.
Performances by his uncle, Ayrton, plus drives from Schumacher, Hakkinen, Raikkonen and even 2010 Championship-leader Mark Webber whilst in lower teams all showed fundamental characteristics needed by drivers to achieve success. These are performances that Bruno has, as of the seventh round of the 2010 season, failed to deliver.
Being fair to the Brazilian, it is important not to judge Senna so-harshly, and so-early into his career. His preparation into Formula One has been so limited, and so quick, that he and Chandhok are likely to be still be learning how to drive the car that HRT have supplied them until the final race of the year. What is important for his progression as a driver, though, is that he is able to consistently outperform his lesser-regarded teammate, Chandhok, who is beginning to steal Senna's light.
TH
I agree that Senna has been slightly overshadowed by Chandhok, but the issue of reliability and how the car drives makes comparing them, especially when there results are always similar, is very difficult!