Race and classic pictures

F1 and Vettel pay tribute at Imola to Senna and Ratzenberger

©Formula1

The Formula 1 community and its drivers came together on the grid on Thursday afternoon at Imola to pay a heartfelt tribute to the sport’s fallen heroes, Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, to mark the 30th anniversary of their passing.

The commemorative event was held at the behest of four-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel and was followed by a track run of the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.

The tribute run was also organized by Vettel who handed out yellow Senna-themed T-shirts to F1’s class of 2023, with each shirt emblazoned with each driver’s race number.

After the run, Vettel walked out to Tamburello to visit the bronze statue of the great Brazilian driver overlooking the track near the very spot where he met his fate on May 1, 1994.

On Sunday, ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Vettel will take to the track to offer fans a few laps onboard Senna’s race winning McLaren Mp4/8.

Here is a gallery of pictures depicting today’s emotional tribute to Senna and Ratzenberger, whose daring spirits continue to live on in the collective memory of F1 fans around the world.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

Antonelli reveals what racing Verstappen taught him at Sepang

F1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli walked away from last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia…

1 hour ago

Mansell's finally breaks his duck after 72-race run

It was a long time coming - 72 races to be exact - but on…

2 hours ago

Alonso reportedly set for sensational Dakar return in 2027

Fernando Alonso isn’t one to settle for a quiet off-season. Just when paddock observers thought…

3 hours ago

Valtteri Bottas opts for extreme cycle commute to Singapore!

Most F1 drivers handle double-header travel days by slipping into air-conditioned transfer vans, boarding a…

4 hours ago

Horner reacts to Red Bull-Ford monumental first at Sepang

Red Bull and Max Verstappen’s triumph in last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix was a vindication…

6 hours ago

Bearman blasts Haas: ‘Soft tyre strategy screwed my race’

Oliver Bearman left Bahrain convinced Haas had thrown away a genuine chance of points after…

20 hours ago