Editing Ayrton Senna (section)

==== Rookie testing ====
Ahead of the 1984 season, Senna was linked to many Formula One teams but received very few offers he liked. He had previously declined a long-term contract from [[McLaren]],<ref name=":33">{{Cite web |last=Malik |first=Ibrar |date=2020-04-22 |title=Ayrton Senna's Lotus years, by Ibrar Malik |url=http://www.talkingaboutf1.com/2020/04/ayrton-sennas-lotus-years-by-ibrar-malik.html |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=Talking About F1}}</ref><ref name=":16">{{Cite web |title=Ron Dennis on Senna - Part one: the early years |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/features/2014/4/Ron-Dennis-on-Senna---Part-one-the-early-years.html |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Formula 1® - The Official F1® Website |language=en}}</ref> and that door was formally closed when [[Alain Prost]] (unexpectedly fired by Renault after finishing runner-up in 1983) received the second McLaren seat.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frenchman Alain Prost, dismissed by Renault after finishing second... - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/10/24/Frenchman-Alain-Prost-dismissed-by-Renault-after-finishing-second/9901435816000/ |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref> He was also linked to [[Team Lotus|Lotus]] and [[Brabham]], but both teams' title sponsors ([[Imperial Tobacco]] / [[John Player & Sons]] for Lotus and [[Parmalat]] for Brabham) wanted drivers from their respective home countries, so Lotus retained Nigel Mansell{{Cn|date=February 2025}} and Brabham signed brothers [[Teo Fabi|Teo]] and [[Corrado Fabi]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2019-03-03 |title=Flashback: When Senna tested for Brabham-BMW |url=https://www.grandprix247.com/2019/03/03/flashback-when-senna-tested-for-brabham/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=GRANDPRIX247.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":332">{{Cite web |last=Malik |first=Ibrar |date=2020-04-22 |title=Ayrton Senna's Lotus years, by Ibrar Malik |url=http://www.talkingaboutf1.com/2020/04/ayrton-sennas-lotus-years-by-ibrar-malik.html |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=Talking About F1}}</ref> In addition, Brabham's lead driver, [[Nelson Piquet]], vetoed Senna from Brabham and arranged for the team to sign his friend [[Roberto Moreno]] as the test driver.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Clarkson |first=Tom |date=18 October 2012 |title=When Senna drove for Brabham |magazine=F1 Racing |publisher=Haymarket Publications |pages=62–67 |volume=201 |issue=November 2012}}</ref>{{sfnp|Rubython|2004|p=90}} Consequently, Senna joined [[Toleman]], a relatively new team, using less competitive [[Pirelli]] tyres.{{sfnp|Hilton|2004|pp=121–122}}<ref>{{cite book |last=Drackett |first=Phil |title=Brabham : Story of a racing team |publisher=Arthur Barker |year=1985 |isbn=0-213-16915-0 |pages=134–135}}</ref> He was paired with Venezuelan [[Johnny Cecotto]], a former [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing]] world champion.<ref>{{cite web |date=25 January 2010 |title=Happy birthday to Johnny Cecotto |url=http://richardsf1.com/2010/01/25/happy-birthday-to-johnny-cecotto/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104045824/http://richardsf1.com/2010/01/25/happy-birthday-to-johnny-cecotto/ |archive-date=4 November 2013}}</ref>

In 1983, Senna tested for McLaren, Brabham, [[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]], and [[Toleman]], although Williams also lacked a vacancy.<ref name="senna">{{cite news |last=Benson |first=Andrew |date=1 May 2009 |title=Senna Remembered |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3605323.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503020557/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3605323.stm |archive-date=3 May 2009 |access-date=1 May 2009 |work=[[BBC Sport]]}}</ref> Both Williams boss [[Frank Williams (Formula One)|Frank Williams]] and McLaren boss Ron Dennis observed that Senna insisted that he got to run their cars before anyone else (other than their regular drivers such as [[Keke Rosberg]]) so that he would have the best chance of a good showing by having a fresh car.{{Cn|date=February 2025}} During his test for Williams at [[Donington Park]], Senna completed 40 laps and was quicker than the other drivers, including Rosberg, Williams's reigning World Champion.<ref name="senna" />