In 1990, Ayrton Senna signed a large autograph for a Lufthansa employee.
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Large autograph by Ayrton Senna for Simone, a Lufthansa counter employee. The calculations at the bottom are not her own.
- April 1990, Galeão Airport, Rio de Janeiro.
- 21.6 cm x 33 cm.
- Folded paper, does not affect the signature.
- Unique piece.
It was an afternoon in April 1990, seemingly ordinary in the Lufthansa check-in area at Rio de Janeiro International Airport. The atmosphere was calm, and the team was ready for another day of work. However, something made this afternoon special: Ayrton Senna, one of Formula 1's greatest idols, was about to board a flight to Frankfurt. In a prior meeting about the flight, Simone B. da Nóbrega, the employee, was assigned to handle First Class check-in and would have the responsibility of assisting him personally.
Back then, boarding passes were filled out by hand. The employee, knowing she would be assisting Senna, took extra care in writing the boarding passes, ensuring everything was impeccable. The flight was the only one at that time, and the area was quiet. Celebrities rarely checked in themselves, but, to everyone's surprise, Ayrton Senna appeared in person. He was wearing khaki trousers and a baby yellow polo shirt.
Senna was accompanied by a beautiful brunette woman, who remained near the check-in counter but did not accompany him to the boarding gate. The conversation between him and the employee was friendly and direct. When asked about his luggage, he indicated a relatively small suitcase, weighing about 20kg, and joked about the weight while placing it on the conveyor belt.
The employee, visibly nervous, ended up forcefully pulling a drawer, causing several labels to fall to the floor. Ayrton, patiently and with a discreet smile, didn't mind the mishap. The check-in process was completed without further problems, and, before heading to the gate, Senna accepted an autograph request from the employee, signing a flight plan form.
When it was time to board, Senna was the last passenger to enter the plane. He walked alone to the gate. Before disappearing into the tunnel leading to the aircraft, he looked back and gave a friendly wave to the employee, who was watching from afar. Later, the employee learned that Ayrton was going to Germany, where he would undergo training with fellow driver Gerhard Berger.
This brief encounter highlighted Ayrton Senna's kindness and humility, traits that always accompanied him, even in the simplest day-to-day interactions. This autograph is the largest we've had in our hands in a decade; you can feel the driver's energy and cheerful humor.
