Lewis Hamilton’s special Ayrton Senna helmet hides a Ferrari history mistake | F1 Brazilian GP. Lewis Hamilton will race in Brazil with a special Ayrton Senna tribute helmet.

Lewis Hamilton can hardly contain his excitement ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, as he prepares to unveil a special helmet in honor of Ayrton Senna. However, his announcement has sparked attention for a historical gaffe concerning Ferrari’s past.

The seven-time world champion, who received honorary Brazilian citizenship in 2022, has always expressed deep affection for the country of his idol. His bond with Brazil and the legendary Ayrton Senna will be celebrated this week when the British driver takes to the track wearing a special helmet design.

He had done it before with Mercedes, and now he will do it again with Ferrari. For the Brazilian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton will sport a unique helmet paying tribute to Ayrton Senna — his first such homage as a Ferrari driver. Senna himself was rumored to be close to joining Ferrari before his tragic accident at Imola, which makes Lewis Hamilton’s gesture even more symbolic and emotional.

“It’s a strange feeling, because I remember growing up watching Ayrton and, like everyone else, I always wondered what it would have been like if Ayrton had driven for Ferrari,” Lewis Hamilton told GQ Brasil. “And now, for the first time, you’ll see a helmet with the Brazilian flag racing for São Paulo on a Ferrari.”

The gaffe: Hamilton forgets Barrichello and Massa

It’s unclear whether it was a translation or transcription error, or if the British driver was simply caught up in the emotion of the moment. But claiming that this is “the first time” a Ferrari driver will race in São Paulo with the Brazilian flag on their helmet is not entirely accurate.

Rubens Barrichello, who raced for the Maranello team between 2000 and 2005, had already carried the Brazilian flag on his helmet. In 2001, the flag was clearly visible on both sides of his helmet design. The same goes for Felipe Massa, who represented Ferrari from 2006 to 2013 and always wore a helmet featuring the colors of his homeland. In 2006, Felipe Massa even wore a special racing suit emblazoned with the Brazilian flag.

While Lewis Hamilton’s tribute to Ayrton Senna is heartfelt and genuine, it inadvertently overlooks Ferrari’s own Brazilian legacy — one that both Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa proudly represented during their time in red.