A jaunty, jazzy instrumental cut through the grainy footage each time Ayrton Senna soaked in the adulation of a Formula 1 victory – at least if you were watching the Brazilian coverage. This celebratory interlude was the Tema da Vitória, opened by blaring brass bleats ahead of its progression into swinging, elongated saxophonic notes; since 1986, it was played by TV channel Globo for nigh-on every victory by a Brazilian driver.
38 of Senna’s wins were appended by the instrumental, recorded by Brazilian soft-rock band Roupa Nova to a composition by Eduardo Souto Neto. The track also accompanied Rubens Barrichello’s 11 victories and 10 for Felipe Massa, with almost half of Nelson Piquet’s wins also receiving Tema treatment at their conclusion.
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– The Autosport.com Team