5 best races of Ayrton Senna

Portuguese Grand Prix, 1985

Ayrton Senna proved himself to be a master of wet conditions over his shortened 10-year career, and the Brazilian demonstrated this ably at the 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix at the Estoril circuit.

Driving at the time for Lotus in only his second year in Formula One, Senna completely dominated proceedings at that race weekend. He would take pole position – the first ever of his career, driving in overcast conditions with sporadic rain in the initial part of the weekend.

On race day, Senna started ahead of the McLaren of Alain Prost and the Williams of Keke Rosberg, with Prost leading the championship standings and Rosberg, who was by then already a world champion.

Their experience seemed not to have any effect at the race, however, with both the Frenchman and the Finn spinning off track and eventually retiring.

Senna held his own in the downpour to not only win the race but lap every single driver with the exception of the second-placed Ferrari of Michele Alboreto.

It was Senna’s first ever pole position – which became his first ever race win.