Ayrton Senna's father has passed away at 94

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Milton da Silva, the father of the late Ayrton Senna and the grand-father of former F1 driver Bruno Senna, died on Wednesday in Sao Paulo at the age of 94 from natural causes.

Although the three-time world champion raced under his mother's surname, his father was a quiet but enduring force in Senna's life.

Milton da Silva initially hoped that his son would join the family business, which included a successful metallurgical company as well as investments in construction, farms and livestock in Brazil.

But the patriarch of the Senna family recognized early on his son's passion for motorsport, and supported the future F1 world champion's early racing efforts in karting and then in Formula Ford 1600 in Great Britain.

However, when the great Brazilian achieved success at the pinnacle of motorsport, his father steered clear of the limelight and remained a figure in the shadows, watching his son's exploits from afar.

While Milton da Silva was a rare presence in the F1 paddock, except during the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend, Ayrton relied heavily during his career on his father's guidance and advice, and drew upon the latter's business experience when the time came for Senna to set up his own affairs in his home country.

Milton da Silva is survived by his wife Neyde Joanna Senna and two children, Viviane and Leonardo.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.