AHEAD of the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton had a unique opportunity to drive the 1990 McLaren MP4/5B, once raced by his idol Ayrton Senna.
At Interlagos, Senna's home track, Hamilton took to the wet circuit, pulling over at one point to retrieve a Brazilian flag from a marshal—mirroring Senna’s iconic moment after his emotional victory there in 1991.
After completing more laps than he had been instructed, Hamilton posed for photos with Viviane Senna, Ayrton's sister, on the grid, and addressed the media in front of the enthusiastic Brazilian crowd.
“It’s very, very emotional, naturally,” Hamilton said. “I was just revisiting my childhood as I was watching [Ayrton] race here as a kid. Hearing that sound and… watching him drive here, winning that race, I just couldn’t believe that I just had that chance to do that, and it was really the greatest honour of my career.
"To do it here in front of this beautiful crowd here in Brazil, who stood out in the rain all day yesterday, and then have been here since 4am or 3am this morning… A very, very special day and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who made this happen.”
This moment came on the 30th anniversary of Senna's passing.
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