The noise. That of the car, but also of an audience who were shouting and chanting the name of a legend. At the wheel of the 1990 McLaren, an icon of the present, Brazilian flag in hand. This Sunday, between qualifying and the Brazilian Grand Prix race, Lewis Hamilton delivered a sublime tribute to the great Ayrton Senna.
The Briton from Mercedes drove one of the Brazilian’s old cars, the victim of a fatal accident in 1994, 30 years ago. The single-seater driven by Lewis Hamilton this Sunday, the very famous McLaren and its Honda engine, led Ayrton Senna to his second world champion title in Formula 1, in 1990.
So, the atmosphere was something exceptional at Interlagos. Even more so when Lewis Hamilton passed through the famous “Senna S”, part of the track renamed after the Brazilian’s death. For the Briton, it was obviously an honor, he who appreciates this Sao Paulo Grand Prix so much and has a deep admiration for Ayrton Senna.
The demonstration was supposed to take place this Saturday, after qualifying. But these were postponed due to the weather and the violent storms which hit Sao Paulo this weekend. Lewis Hamilton will start far on the starting grid, in fifteenth position. The pole man is called Lando Norris… A McLaren driver, obviously.
