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FORMULA 1
AP PHOTO/ANDRE PENNER
Amidst all the chaos that has transpired over the past three days at Interlagos as part of the Brazilian GP, Lewis Hamilton has finally managed to get in a few demonstration laps in Ayrton Senna’s McLaren MP4/5B – and he appeared particularly excited about it.
Lewis Hamilton’s drive of the great Brazilian Formula 1 tricampeao’s legendary car was scheduled for Saturday afternoon (2/11) at the São Paulo Circuit, as part of the “Senna Sempre” (“You Forever”) events for 30 years since the death of Ayrton Senna.
But that day’s deluge postponed both the event, and the GP qualifying tests themselves, to Sunday morning. And between qualifying and the race, Hamilton took the opportunity to enter Interlagos, Ayrton’s home track, in the McLaren MP4/5B driven by the great Paulista in 1990.
Lewis Hamilton drives Ayrton Senna’s McLaren MP4/5B since 1990 on the sidelines of the 2024 Brazilian GP
AP PHOTO/ETTORE CHIEREGUINI
The rain was no obstacle for the seven-time Formula 1 champion as he raced across the circuit with the roar of his Honda V10 engine. As Ayrton was wont to do with each of his victories, Hamilton took his final lap in this iconic car holding the Brazilian flag in his hand outside the cockpit.
Lewis was so excited, he did more laps than agreed, as he admitted. And then he stopped at the start/finish line, where he was greeted by Vivian Senna, Ayrton’s sister.
Lewis Hamilton in Ayrton Senna’s McLaren-Honda on the main straight of Interlago
AP PHOTO/ANDRE PENNER
“It’s incredibly moving”said the Briton with this unique experience. “I remember myself as a child watching Ayrton compete here. I was hearing this sound – and to see that I can now experience something similar, it is sincerely or greatest honor of my career”he added.
In addition to his idol, Hamilton also has a special relationship with Brazil: in 2008 he won his first title in Interlago, in the highly dramatic finale against Felipe Massa, while in 2022 the Brazilians declared him an honorary citizen of the country.
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