Throwback to 1986 – Photographing Formula 1’s Finest

Keith Sutton is arguably Formula One’s favourite photographer. As Ayrton Senna’s protégé, he managed his early career, launching him in Europe. But nothing prepared him for the special minute in September 1986 when he helped make the most iconic photograph in Formula One history happen. He reminisces for WHEREVER as Netflix launches its new series SENNA.

Sunday 21st September 1986 is a day I’ll never forget, for reasons that have become clearer 38 years later. Back then, I was a 26-year-old photographer making my way in the sport after founding my own photo agency, Sutton Motorsport Images, a few years before. My claim to fame, up to then, was being Ayrton Senna’s personal photographer and part-time PR representative when he arrived in Europe as a gauche teenager in 1981, right up to the time when he got his first Formula One drive in 1984 and set the world of Grand Prix racing alight.

“A minute in my life I will never forget”

That late September morning, I was wandering about the Estoril paddock early on race day looking for good people’s photos, camera, as always at the ready, when Bernie Ecclestone came running after me. That was unusual as I usually ran after Bernie asking for favours: “Keith, you need to be over in the pit lane at just after 11. I’m going to set up a picture of all the world, well potential world champions – the four drivers in contention. Make sure you’re there, so you get a good position. It’s going to be a great picture and we’ll make history, it’s never been done before.” Then as he ran off, he shouted behind me, “it was your idea, be there.” That’s exactly what he said and I was immediately very conscious that I needed to be there early. But I had no idea what he was talking about when he said it was “my idea”. I remembered I had mentioned to Bernie a few races before that a group photo of the four drivers competing for the championship would be nice, but it had gone out of my mind completely. I thought it would be impossible to do anyway.

I was sure there were going to be lots of other photographers wanting the shot and I have to admit I was sceptical that even Bernie could get the drivers to do it, let alone make them sit still for the five minutes it would take to get them all looking the same way with their eyes open. But full of the optimism of youth I was there early, about 30 minutes early, ready to go as 20 other photographers arrived. We were all nervous as we knew whoever got the iconic shot, the money shot as it was known, would be able to make a few thousand dollars selling it, a lot of money in those days.

And then Bernie brought them all along, one by one and sat them on the wall. Nelson Piquet was first to arrive and he thought it was very funny as it wasn’t normal Bernie behaviour. I remember Nelson told us to take the shot now, just with him, as no one else would turn up. But slowly one-by-one they did. Senna came next in his John Player Lotus overalls and Bernie put him on on the left and made sure Piquet, the other Brazilian, was on the far right with Prost and Mansell in the middle. In between, Bernie said to me “don’t let any of them go”. As if I could stop them. But despite their obvious scepticism and disinterest from some, they all stayed, sensing that perhaps something special was about to happen. And it did.

I remember Nelson was messing about, treating it as a big joke and he kept poking his finger in Nigel’s ear. Finally, when they were all there, and Bernie telling them to pretend they all liked each other, we took our pictures. It took less than a minute and probably a 100 photos were clicked off by the photographers Bernie had corralled. We had to be quick because warm up was about to begin and Ayrton clearly didn’t want to be there. But it was his presence that has made the photo so iconic and I would venture the most iconic photo in Formula One history.

These were days before digital cameras had arrived, so none of us knew what sort of photo we had got until we developed the film a day later back home. And the dream photo came true. My own shot was superb and definitely iconic and I remember I made a thousand pounds selling it the following week.

True to form, all four drivers were to finish 1-4 in the race later that afternoon and 1-4 in the world championship a month later. It became the closest ever world championship fight in the sport’s 74-year history after Prost bested Mansell by two points and Piquet by three with Senna fourth after suffering six retirements during the season, without which he would have been world champion.

“Looking back now, without Ayrton Senna the photo would have meant nothing.”

Looking back now, without Ayrton Senna the photo would have meant nothing. He made it and now it is one of my clearest memories of all my time in the sport. I am proud to have been there and taken a photograph that will live forever. Prost and Piquet were already world champions and Senna and Mansell would join them, the four of them winning 11 world championships between them. We didn’t know that then – but perhaps Bernie did.