Ayrton Senna

When you are fitted in a racing car and you race to win, second or third place is not enough.

I was already on pole, then by half a second and then one second and I just kept going. Suddenly I was nearly two seconds faster than anybody else, including my team mate with the same car.

Then suddenly something just kicked me. I kind of woke up and realised that I was in a different atmosphere than you normally are. My immediate reaction was to back off, slow down.

Of course there are moments that you wonder how long you should be doing it because there are other aspects which are not nice, of this lifestyle. But I just love winning.

Wealthy men can't live in an island that is encircled by poverty. We all breathe the same air. We must give a chance to everyone, at least a basic chance.

I don't know driving in another way which isn't risky. Each one has to improve himself. Each driver has its limit. My limit is a little bit further than other's.

There are no small accidents on this circuit.

It's going to be a season with lots of accidents, and I'll risk saying that we'll be lucky if something really serious doesn't happen.

Winning is the most important. Everything is consequence of that.

It was like I was in a tunnel. Not only the tunnel under the hotel but the whole circuit was a tunnel. I was just going and going, more and more and more and more. I was way over the limit but still able to find even more.

You must take the compromise to win, or else nothing. That means: you race or you do not.

You will never know the feeling of a driver when winning a race. The helmet hides feelings that cannot be understood.

My biggest error? Something that is to happen yet.

Fear is exciting for me.

The danger sensation is exciting. The challenge is to find new dangers.

On a given day, a given circumstance, you think you have a limit.

And suddenly I realised that I was no longer driving the car consciously. I was driving it by a kind of instinct, only I was in a different dimension.

Because in a split second, it's gone.

Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose.

And so you touch this limit, something happens and you suddenly can go a little bit further. With your mind power, your determination, your instinct, and the experience as well, you can fly very high.

I am not designed to come second or third. I am designed to win.

I have no idols. I admire work, dedication and competence.

Women - always in trouble with them, but can't live without them.

Money is a strange business. People who haven't got it aim it strongly. People who have are full of troubles.

Racing, competing, it's in my blood. It's part of me, it's part of my life; I have been doing it all my life and it stands out above everything else.