Lewis Hamilton has won seven F1 titles, holds multiple records and has clocked some of the fastest laps in history. But the greatest honour of his career, according to the 39-year-old Briton, came on Sunday as he drove the late Ayrton Senna’s title-winning car around Interlagos ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Some fans in the stands had tears in their eyes as Hamilton knelt in front of the car in reverence.
Wearing a white racing suit, Hamilton took some laps under falling rain in the historic McLaren MP4/5B that Senna drove during his 1990 title campaign, in which he beat Ferrari’s Alain Prost. The Mercedes driver was shown the checkered flag by Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Rebeca Andrade as he carried a Brazilian flag with his right hand, mimicking what the legendary three-time champion did after many of his victories.
Senna, who won at Interlagos in 1991 and 1993, died after the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994.
“It is very emotional, naturally,” said Hamilton as he held the Brazilian flag on his back. “I was revisiting my childhood as I watched Ayrton racing here. I can’t believe I am having this opportunity.
“It is the greatest honour of my career to do it in front of this amazing crowd in Brazil,” said Hamilton, who in 2022 became an honorary Brazilian citizen.
During his time at McLaren, Hamilton drove Senna’s MP4/4 car around Silverstone in 2009 for a British TV programme.
On his social media channels, the British driver added that while the weekend was not going his way, he could still enjoy the moment with Senna’s car.
“I won my first championship here, had my best ever drive here, and now to be in this country as an honorary citizen driving my hero’s car is almost too much to comprehend. It doesn’t feel real,” he said. “It’s a massive honour and one that I’ll look back on as one of the highlights of my life.”
Struggling with Mercedes this season, Hamilton, who started Sunday’s race 14th, jokingly said he had “the best drive in the whole weekend”.
Heavy rain in Sao Paulo delayed much of Saturday’s action to Sunday morning, including the tribute to Senna.
“I would race with that car today (Sunday) if I could,” Hamilton, who will move to Ferrari next season, said.
Luciane D’Angelo, 45, was one of the tearful fans watching Hamilton drive at Interlagos.
“I cry because Ayrton’s tragic death still leaves us with this massive void. He made children of that time enjoy their Sundays with their families even more. He wasn’t only one of the greatest F1 drivers in history, but also a person that every Brazilian learned to admire,” she said.
Earlier this year, four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel drove Senna’s 1993 McLaren at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix as part of tributes to the Brazilian driver on the 30th anniversary of his death.
Former Brazilian drivers were split about handing the tribute to Senna to his hardcore fan Hamilton. Rubens Barrichello said a Brazilian driver who shared some time in F1 with the three-time champion would have been a better choice.
Two-time champion Emerson Fittipaldi said in an interview that it was “unethical” for organisers to pick Hamilton. But Felipe Massa, who lost the 2008 title to Hamilton near the end of that year’s race at Interlagos, agreed with the move.
