Bruno's Williams Berth Offers Him A Chance To Step Out Of Ayrton's Shadow

When Bruno Senna was announced as the second Williams-Renault driver for the 2012 season, it was heralded as vindication for a young man who has struggled to find consistency over the last two years.

The Brazilian even described his joy at securing a seat by saying it is "the start of my Formula One career for real." While fans of Bruno will be delighted to see him given a chance by Sir Frank Williams, for a large part of the F1 fraternity his signing immediately evoked memories of his uncle, the great Ayrton Senna, who drove for the very same outfit almost two decades ago.

While this is a brilliant chance for Bruno to begin establishing himself on the track, in the same way that Nico Rosberg did six years ago, there is a lingering sense that his career will always be judged in comparison to his mercurial uncle's success.

Formula One is a sport which has seen a number of familial legacies continued, but despite instances where sons have eclipsed their fathers' success, it begs the question whether the younger generation can really be considered 'greater' than their famous relatives? Is it fair to immediately handicap them by expecting so much just because they may share a name or show some of the same traits as their successful elders?

Take Jacques Villeneuve for example. An exceptional driver in his own right, Jacques had the memories of his late father Gilles to live up to.

Despite being statistically superior than him, and unforgettably winning the Drivers' Championship in 1997, the legacy which follows his career cannot supersede the memory of what Gilles stood for. Alain Prost's assertion in 1982 that "Gilles was the last great driver, the rest of us are just a bunch of good professionals" underlined this memory and indelibly marked him in Formula One folklore forever.

There is also a dark romance which mystifies death in motorsport, especially when it happens on the track. Gilles' passing in some respects made him an immortal hero to Canadians, something Jacques could never eclipse.

While Jacques tried to emulate what his father stood for, Nico Rosberg has faced a completely different battle. This season will mark thirty years since his father, the much celebrated Keke Rosberg, won his one and only world championship crown.

That 1982 championship win was unique for a number of reasons. Keke became the first Finnish driver to claim the drivers' title, and he did it by winning only one race, the Swiss grand prix, which was evidently his maiden F1 victory.

In that respect, Nico has a lot to live up to, especially considering that by the end of the 2012 season, he would have competed in the same amount of races as his father did throughout his entire career. By that point Keke had a title, five race victories and 17 podiums to his name. So far Nico has just five podiums.

However, he has by no means disappointed during his six-year career. He is a competent, assured driver who has impressively out-performed Michael Schumacher for the last two seasons, but, as he enters his seventh year, questions will undoubtedly arise over his success as a driver. With Sebastian Vettel threatening a Schumacher-esq period of domination, Nico could well become the greatest driver to never win a race.

While Nico has shown promise and progression during his tenure, on the opposite end of the scale there are drivers who are simply thrust into privileged positions.

It is no secret that Nelson Piquet Junior's motor-racing career has been aided by his father's millions. From his early days karting through to his days in GP2, Piquet drove under his own team name, a practice which helped catapult him into the public's consciousness.

Although his pedigree as a driver showed in smaller series, it was always going to be a massive ask to hit the dizzy heights reached by his father, Nelson Piquet Senior.

Piquet Senior's three world championships, paired with a career which saw him win 23 races over 13 years, cast an ominous shadow over his son's fledging foray into motorsport. By heavily investing in his son's career, Piquet Senior inadvertently set his son up for comparisons he could never answer.

However, it is possible to step out of the shadow, as Damon Hill has arguably shown. His single world title may not live up to the two which his father achieved, and his eight year career is eclipsed by the eighteen year period which Graham featured for, but it is the nature of Damon's success which has seen him uttered as a British driving great.

Damon gained respect for grafting his way into a Formula One seat, and although his post-championship winning career may have taken a down-turn, his ability to become one half of the only father-son combo to win F1 titles will always dictate that he was a success.

While comparisons will always be drawn between the generations of driver, it is unfair to judge a fledgling based on a relative's success. This is a sport of development and progression, and, although unpredictable competition may be a thing of the past, drivers should be given a chance to carve out their own legacies freely.

For Bruno Senna, there is a chance to step into the light and, while there will be those who will naturally draw comparisons to his uncle, now is his chance to show them what he's made of. Ayrton once said: "If you think I'm good, wait until you see my nephew." Hopefully, now he has been thrust into the limelight, Bruno will be visible.

Read more blogs and articles by Simon Knights here. Follow Simon Knights on Twitter @SimonKnights