Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sensitive racing series has drinking, smoking, sex.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Senna
What's the Story?
SENNA is a Brazilian series about the life and career of the late Brazilian Formula One motorcar racer Ayrton "Beco" Senna. Senna (Gabriel Leone) is a young and talented local go-kart racer who often teams up with British karting rival and friend Taylor Fullerton (Rob Compton). In 1981, at the age of twenty-one, he moves to England to race with Formula Ford. By 1983, Senna wins the British Formula Three Championship. The young driver's talent, relentless work ethic, aggressive driving style, and strategic testing of cars belonging to motorsport teams like McLaren and Williams leads to his F1 racing debut with Toleman. Over the years, as he rises in dominance while negotiating the politics of F1 racing, Senna must also navigate his private life, which means being away from his parents (played by Marco Ricca and Susana Ribeiro), and sacrificing other close relationships. But racing is where Senna finds his purpose until the fatal crash that ends his life at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy on May 1, 1994.
Is It Any Good?
This heartwarming and heartbreaking biographical series was released to mark the 30th anniversary of Senna's death and highlights his lasting legacy in Brazil and in F1 racing. Presented as a flashback that begins during the fatal race at the Imola Circuit, Senna successfully showcases the late motorcar racer's raw talent, his mental approach to driving, his unique understanding of cars, and his relentless work ethic as he sought championship wins. It also highlights Senna's calls for less politics and more integrity in the sport, especially when it came to the rulings made by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).
While it shows how Ayrton Senna elevated the sport, it subtly reminds viewers about his and other people's concerns about F1 driver safety throughout, which makes the scenes of his fatal accident even harder to watch. Granted, those not interested in F1 racing may find it a little tough to commit to the series. But those who tune in to Senna will find a compelling account of a young man whose brief life left a lasting mark on one of the world's most popular sports.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Ayrton Senna. How did he change Formula One while he was racing? After he died? How does his legacy impact the sport today?
What does Senna want us to remember about Ayrton Senna? What parts of his life does it leave out? Why?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 19, 2024
- Cast : Gabriel Leone , Rob Compton , Marco Ricca
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Transportation ( Cars & Trucks )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Gratitude , Integrity , Perseverance
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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