The English champion intends to honor Ayrton Senna during the Interlagos Grand Prix.
The mark of Senna
Thirty-one years after the tragic passing of Ayrton Senna, the memory of the legendary Brazilian driver remains more alive than ever, especially when Formula 1 returns to his home country at Interlagos. Lewis Hamilton is the first to recall the achievements of ‘Magic’ in an interview with GQ Brazil: “My first time here in 2007 was an incredible emotion, I felt closer to Ayrton. As a child, I always watched him on TV, and arriving in his country was something very special.”
Last year, Lewis Hamilton drove the McLaren MP4/5B: “It was amazing because I was watching recordings of his laps. Too bad the track was wet; it would have been more fun in dry conditions.”
He also referenced Ayrton Senna’s dream of driving a Ferrari: “I remember growing up watching Ayrton and wondering what it would have been like to see him in a Ferrari. And now, for the first time, you’ll see a helmet with the Brazilian flag on a Ferrari in São Paulo.”
Indeed, Felipe Massa used a helmet inspired by the colors of the Brazilian flag, but not the actual flag itself. Therefore, Lewis Hamilton’s helmet could effectively hint at a special design for Interlagos.
Honorary citizen
The special bond between Lewis Hamilton and Brazil became official in 2022, when he was granted honorary citizenship: “Whenever I come here, I’ve always been warmly welcomed. The country is beautiful, and visiting São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro is always special.”
The hope is to repay the affection of the fans with a strong performance: “I hope that all the difficult moments we’ve faced this year will prepare us for this weekend.” – the British driver concluded ahead of the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix, which is set to take place at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, better known as Interlagos, located in the city of São Paulo.
