Following his impressive performance in Monaco, where Ayrton Senna secured a remarkable second place among the renowned names of Formula 1, he elevated his status within the sport. Expectations were high as the spotlight turned to the 1984 Canadian Grand Prix.
Starting the race on a positive note, Senna achieved his best grid position thus far, posting the ninth-fastest time. As the mechanics worked on preparing the car, Senna took the opportunity to explore the picturesque Ile de Notre Dame Park, which housed the Gilles Villeneuve circuit in Montreal, the same city that hosted the 1976 Olympic Games.
Strolling along the track and embracing the tranquility of the water’s edge, Senna embarked on a lengthy walk. Was this a way for him to prepare physically for the race or did the driver simply need some time to think about life?
“Trying to discover a way to push my car to the next level.”
While the specifics of his contemplation remain unknown, Ayrton Senna demonstrated his unwavering determination as he guided his Toleman car across the finish line in seventh place, trailing Nigel Mansell of Lotus by a mere thousandth of a second. Although he fell short of securing additional points, the race served as solid evidence of the inconsistencies in his car’s performance.
Prior to the race, Senna had traveled to Canada a week earlier to participate in a congress, during which he shared insights on sports medicine. Demonstrating his exercise routines and contributing to a research project on physical conditioning under stress, Senna showcased his commitment to both his physical well-being and the advancement of sports science.
Check out the full text published in the newspaper “O popular da Tarde” about the pilot’s early trip.
“Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna has been in Canada since last Sunday. He traveled to the country earlier than planned to accept an invitation from McGill University’s Physical Education Department to take part in a seminar about sports medicine as applied to motorsports.
On Monday and Tuesday, Ayrton went to the campus Research Lab to present the series of exercises he performs daily. After that, he was subject to a complete assessment by Doctors Jacques Dallaire and Jacques Bouchard, who agreed that the driver is in excellent physical and psychological condition.
McGill University, located in Montreal, is developing studies on physical fitness, the influence of stress in motorsports, and the physical and psychological effects of a Grand Prix on a driver and how to mitigate them. They have the most advanced research lab in the field, including a computer designed exclusively to that end.
The University’s team of doctors and scientists also congratulated Ayrton Senna’s doctor, Dr. Paulo Dauar, and trainer Nuno Cobra, both from São Paulo, for their excellent guidance in terms of diet and health control as well as in terms of finding the right exercise routine to build muscles capable of withstanding the huge effort demanded by Formula One’s training sessions and races.
Since Wednesday, Ayrton Senna has been resting and getting ready for tomorrow’s Grand Prix, in which he hopes to repeat the great performance shown in Monaco.
His team is very confident and doing everything they can to bring out the best of his Toleman TG 184. Even though it’s no secret that his Halt turbocharged engine is a few races away from being 100% competitive, the track where the Canadian Grand Prix is going to take place is considered one the hardest in the season, and the circuit’s many corners can end up favoring Senna, who’s been making a name for himself as one of the fastest drivers in the slower parts of any circuit”.
Canadian gp
1º
N. Piquet
2º
A. Prost
3º
E. de Angelis
4º
D. Warwick
5º
R. Arnoux
6º
M. Alboreto
7º
N. Mansell
8º
N. Lauda
9º
Ayrton Senna
10º
A. de Cesaris
11º
E. Cheever
12º
M. Winkelhock
13º
F. Hesnault
14º
R. Patrese
15º
K. Rosberg
16º
T. Fabi
17º
J. Laffite
18º
T. Boutsen
19º
P. Ghinzani
20º
J. Cecotto
21º
M. Brundle
22º
S. Bellof
23º
M. Surer
24º
H. Rothengatter
25º
M. Tackwell
26º
P. Alliot
70
laps
26
cars
14
Retirements
1’28”763
fastest lap
1º
Sunny weather
podium
1º
N. Piquet
2º
N. Lauda
3º
A. Prost
7º
final position
9º
position in championship following the race
9º
starting place
0
championship points accumulated
1’31’822
best lap