In 1990, Ayrton Senna signs a large autograph for a Lufthansa employee.
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Large autograph from Ayrton Senna for Simone, a Lufthansa counter employee. The calculations at the bottom are not his.
- April 1990, Galeão airport, in Rio de Janeiro.
- 21.6 cm x 33 cm.
- Folded paper does not harm the signature.
- Unique piece.
It was an April afternoon in 1990, seemingly normal at 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, there was something that made this afternoon special: Ayrton Senna, one of the greatest idols of Formula 1, was about to board a flight to Frankfurt. In a meeting prior to the flight, Simone B. da Nóbrega, the employee, was assigned to attend to the First Class check-in, and she would be responsible for personally assisting him.
At that time, boarding passes were filled out by hand. The employee, knowing that she would be serving Senna, took extra care when writing the cards, ensuring that 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 showed up in person. He was wearing khaki pants and a baby yellow polo shirt.
Senna was accompanied by a beautiful brunette woman, who remained near the check-in desk 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 20 kg, and joked about its weight as he placed it on the conveyor belt.
The employee, visibly nervous, ended up pulling a drawer with force, causing several labels to fall to the floor. Ayrton, with patience and a discreet smile, did not mind the setback. The check-in process was completed without any major problems, and before heading to the gate, Senna accepted an autograph request made by the employee, signing a flight plan paper.
When it was time to board, Senna was the last passenger to board the plane. He walked alone to the gate. Before disappearing into the tunnel that led to the aircraft, he looked back and gave a friendly wave to the attendant, who was watching from afar. Later, the attendant learned that Ayrton was heading to Germany, where he would undergo training with fellow pilot Gerhard Berger.
This brief encounter highlighted Ayrton Senna's friendliness and humility, traits that always accompanied him, even in the simplest interactions of everyday life. This autograph is the largest we have had in our hands in a decade; you can feel the driver's energy and cheerful humor.
