Minister Mauro Vieira represents the Brazilian Government during a ceremony in honor of Ayrton Senna in Imola, Italy

By invitation of the Italian Government, Minister Mauro Vieira (Foreign Affairs) represented the Brazilian Government at Imola (Italy), during a ceremony in memory of Formula-1 pilot Ayrton Senna, who passed 30 years ago, in 1994. The ceremony held this Wednesday (May 1st) included a minute of silence and a floral tribute at the Tamburello Curve, a section of the racetrack where the three-time world champion was killed in an accident.

Vieira highlighted that “every Brazilian of a certain age knows exactly where they were and what they were doing in the morning of May 1st, 1994”. In his address, the minister recalled the profound shock upon caused by the announcement of Senna's passing: "We instinctively knew that a national mourning would engulf the country; we knew that sorrow would grip each of us on that day and long thereafter. These are emotions that are difficult to articulate yet strongly felt."

According to the minister, Ayrton Senna was more than just a Formula 1 idol. "He was a hero to generations of Brazilians, embodying excellence, perseverance, and integrity." Vieira noted that Senna also enjoyed unanimous admiration from his peers. "In 2009, he was voted by 217 pilots in the sport in a poll by the English magazine Autosport as the greatest Formula 1 pilot of all time."

In 2023, Ayrton Senna was posthumously declared the Patron of Brazilian Sports by Law 14.559/2023. "Such an accolade, in a country that has in its pantheon of athletes names such as Pelé, Marta, Ronaldo, Oscar Schmidt, Maria Esther Bueno, Gustavo Kuerten, and many others, underscores the profound impact of Senna on national life," emphasized the minister.

Senna secured Formula 1 world titles in 1988, 1990, and 1991. He inspired pilots of subsequent generations and his legacy, prompted by the tragedy that befell him, includes significant improvement in motorsport safety regulations. The weekend of the Brazilian pilot's passing saw another loss. One day prior, during the qualifying rounds, Roland Ratzenberger collided with the wall at Villeneuve corner at 314 kilometers per hour and tragically did not survive. The Austrian pilot was also remembered on Wednesday.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS — At Imola, Minister Mauro Vieira and the Austrian Chancellor, Alexander Schallenberg, were greeted at Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit by Italy’s Chancellor, Antonio Tajani, and by the Mayor of the Italian city, Marco Panieri. During the visit, Vieira held bilateral meetings with Tajani and Schallenberg. According to the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the discussions included issues of the bilateral, regional, and multilateral agendas.

Italy currently holds the Presidency of the G7. The visit to Imola offered an opportunity for deepening the bilateral dialogue and cooperation regarding the presidencies of the G20 (held by Brazil) and the G7.

In 2023, the bilateral trade flow with Italy reached USD 9.9 billion, with Brazilian exports totaling USD 4.08 billion. Italy stands out as a leading sources of foreign direct investment in Brazil: more than a thousand Italian companies operate in the country, generating approximately 150,000 direct jobs.