Gerhard Berger's last memory of Ayrton Senna

Friendships between drivers have always been few and far between in the high-strung and cut-throat world of Formula 1.

Team mates can get along quite well, enjoy a harmonious entente, even be friendly, but it's hard to be friends.

Yet Gerhard Berger, when paired with Ayrton Senna at McLaren in 1990, developed a close rapport with the great Brazilian, although the friendship it spawned did not diminish the Austrian's awe of his team mate's aura and talent.

It did however encourage Berger to unsettle and unwind Senna away from the race track with a full arsenal of pranks and practical jokes.

From frogs in the Brazilian's hotel room to ripping out Senna's photo from his passport and replacing it with the picture of a monkey, not to mention the day Berger chucked his friend's briefcase out of a helicopter, the wild stories live on.

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However, one special moment between himself and his friend and colleague - the last as it happened to be - remains engraved in Berger's memory, its backdrop set on that fateful day at Imola, 28 years ago today.

"The last thing I remember was when we went to the starting grid, I think he was on the front row or maybe on pole with the Williams and I was just behind with the Ferrari," Berger once recounted.

"As a Ferrari driver you always bring the big style in Imola and I remember the people were all shouting.

"I was out of the car and he was still in the car, and I remember looking at him and he was laughing."

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Berger interpreted Senna's grin and chuckle as a generous feeling of contentment: the Brazilian was simply delighted to see his old friend being cheered by the crowds.

"Because I had been happy when it was something good for him and he’d been happy when something was good for me," added Berger.

"That was my last eye contact with him."

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.