Hamilton set for Senna tribute at Interlagos with F1 McLaren

Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is set to pay tribute to the legendary Ayrton Senna by driving the latter’s 1990 title-winning McLaren MP4/5B at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix this weekend.

The Briton’s demo run onboard the iconic machine will reportedly take place late on Saturday afternoon, following the conclusion of F1’s Sprint race and qualifying.

Hamilton’s tribute to Senna comes during a particularly poignant year, marking 30 years since the great Brazilian’s tragic accident at the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola in 1994.

The F1 community has been honoring the three-time World Champion throughout the season, with various tributes paid at different races.

At the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix back in May, four-time world champion Sebatian Vettel ran several demo laps at the wheel Senna’s 1993 McLaren MP4/8, which the German owns, followed by a commemorative track run in which F1’s class of 2024 took part.

• Read also: ‘Senna’ – get ready to relive the legend

McLaren itself honored the memory of its former driver by running a special Senna-themed livery on its car at this year’s Monaco Grand Prix, an event won five times by the late Brazilian.

Hamilton’s admiration for Senna has been clear since his F1 debut with McLaren in 2007, and his connection to Brazil has only deepened over time.

A three-time winner at Interlagos, Hamilton’s victories in 2016, 2018, and 2021 each showcased his talent on the legendary track that witnessed many of Senna’s defining moments.

But his affinity for Brazil was honored formally in 2022, when Hamilton was made an honorary citizen of Brazil ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, a gesture recognizing the bond between the British driver and Senna’s home country.

Hamilton was asked on his thoughts on having the privilege of driving one of Senna’s cars.

“I never in a million years thought I’d ever get to drive Senna’s car here,” he said. “I remember someone contacted me, my manager told me about it, and I jumped at the opportunity.

“Back in the day when I was at McLaren I did get the chance to drive the MP4/4 around Silverstone, which was incredible.

“Just the thought of driving that car around here… I remember the races when he finally won here and held the flag. It will definitely be quite an emotional experience and I hope people are here to see it. I had a helmet made, his helmet made, I don’t know if we’re using that one.

“I think the initial hope was for it to be a surprise – I would have an all-white suit and his helmet and go out and drive the lap and it would just look like it was him out there, but somehow it got out there. It's impossible to keep things quiet!”

As Hamilton steps into the cockpit of Senna’s 1990 car on Saturday, he will do so as both a champion of the present and an ardent admirer of the past.

This tribute will connect two of the sport’s most celebrated figures, weaving together legacies that transcend time, nationality, and rivalry, paying homage to a driver who inspired generations.

For fans around the world, it’s a moment that promises to capture the spirit of Formula 1’s golden eras, as Hamilton, like Senna, roars through the heart of Interlagos.

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