Ayrton Senna won three Formula One World Championships: in 1988, 1990 and 1991. All three titles came with McLaren, during his celebrated rivalry with Alain Prost.
Senna’s first championship arrived in 1988, his debut season with McLaren. Driving the Honda-powered MP4/4, he won eight of the season’s 16 Grands Prix and finished ahead of Prost under the points system then in use. McLaren won 15 races that year, one of the most dominant seasons in Formula One history.
Senna reclaimed the title in 1990 after Prost moved to Ferrari. Their rivalry reached its most famous flashpoint at Suzuka, where a collision handed Senna the championship. In 1991, Senna won his third title, taking seven victories and becoming the youngest three-time champion at that time.
A common mix-up is confusing Senna’s three championships with his 41 Grand Prix wins, 65 pole positions or 80 podiums. He remained a three-time champion until his death in 1994.