Senna wanted me to play him in film – Stallone

Famous US actor Sylvester Stallone says F1 legend Ayrton Senna “wanted me to do his life story” in a motion picture before his life was tragically cut short at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

Stallone, who is best known for his roles as Rocky Balboa and John Rambo, made the revelation at a recent Heritage Auctions event where he was offering a Senna-owned helmet that the late Brazilian had gifted to him in 1994.

With three F1 world titles (1998, 1990-91), 41 grand prix wins, and 65 pole positions, Senna remains firmly entrenched as one of the very best racers to have ever graced the sport.

In 2010, the McLaren great – he won all his championships with the British outfit – was the subject of an Asif Kapadia-directed documentary called Senna, which received critical acclaim and earned several awards including two BAFTAs.

Stallone, who portrayed a Champ Car champion in the 2001 film Driven and was often spotted at F1 races, says he and Senna regularly talked about making a movie before he died at Imola.

“Senna was one of the greatest drivers of all time and wanted me to do his life story,” Stallone said. “We were speaking many years ago on the phone and he goes 'I think it would be really good, I liked your films'. I said thank you very much. I started studying up on him and we spoke a lot by phone.

“He said ‘let me show you the colours, they're very much like Rocky colours, it’s yellow and black.’ So he sent it to me and of course I'd never seen a helmet like this. And then he unfortunately died in this horrible crash and after that I just decided I couldn't do the film, it was just too hard.

“And then unfortunately he died in this horrible crash. But this is what he sent me and it's been sitting at my house for about 15 years and it's wonderful.”

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