Ayrton Senna

F1's 'arrogant' Senna error leaves Liberty Media red-faced

Matthew Scott Friday 18 October 2019 13:00 Updated: 16:54

F1's 'arrogant' Senna error leaves Liberty Media red-faced

Formula 1 has announced a special fan festival ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix to commemorate the life an career of Ayrton Senna, but an error was claimed to have been included with Liberty Media's promotion of the event.

The car Senna debuted in, the Toleman TG184, will be on display, as well as the Lotus 97T, which powered Senna to a maiden grand prix victory in Portugal in 1985.

An image of the famous black-and-gold beauty was used in the promotional imagery, but F1 journalist Száguldó Cirkusz spotted a flaw.

The car in picture may not have been Senna's at all, as it carried the number 11, which was used on the car of team-mate Elio De Angelis in the 1985 season, with Senna taking 12.

Very arrogant (or just negligent?) from the graphic crew of #LibertyMedia to put Senna's Lotus 97T-Renault Turbo on this teaser with No.11, the number of team-mate Elio de Angelis. Ayrton has never raced car 11. He had #12 at Lotus & @McLarenF1. Fans know that. Why not #Liberty? pic.twitter.com/NjD4FDn7D2
— Száguldó Cirkusz (@realsimonsays) October 17, 2019

Indeed Senna raced with Lotus for three years and used the number 12 each time.

Update

F1's media arm has since responded to this article, providing what is claimed to be the source picture of Senna in the Lotus with a number 11.

We hold our hands up here. Apologies for ever doubting the team at F1 HQ.

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