Senna legend lives on at Imola

The first day of the San Marino Grand Prix passed without anyone mentioning his name publicly but he will be inextricably linked through time with the place where he died in 1994 while leading the race.

Rubens Barrichello, now Brazil's leading driver, says the memory of his close friend and mentor still hangs heavily on him.

Barrichello's own 150mph accident that weekend in practice, which almost cost him his life, was the first in a series of bizarre accidents. But it is only Senna he remembers now.

"I still suffer when I come here. It is impossible not to remember what happened - it was the worst time I had in my entire life," he said.

"My mood is always very heavy when I am here. I hope I have a better time this year than last when I was third.

"I try to put it all behind me when I am driving the car but it is still difficult when I come to Imola."