Lewis Hamilton says driving Ayrton Senna’s car in F1 Brazil GP weekend was the best thing to happen to him, more than how is race panned out.
It was not a good F1 Brazil GP weekend in terms of results for Mercedes’ Hamilton after a difficult run, but the Brit had a memory made after he got to drive Senna’s 1990 McLaren MP4/5B at the Brazilian’s home event – that too as a honorary citizen of the country.
It was supposed to be a secret, but was let out days before the weekend. The scheduled run was to take place on Saturday evening after the main qualifying but since it was postponed to Sunday, the demo run then took place between qualifying and the grand prix in the short space of time.
Hamilton had Senna’s sister speaking to him before and after the run as the Brit was left emotional. “Driving Senna’s car was the best thing ever, so I am happy and grateful for that experience in Interlagos,” he said to media. “It was an amazing reception from the fans. They’ve been incredible. They turned up, I think, at 3 AM in the morning.
“So, it is an unbelievable commitment from the fans. Regarding the drive, it was really, very very emotional, naturally. I was just revisiting my childhood as I was watching Ayrton race here as a kid and hearing that sound and watching him drive here and win that race [1991]. I can’t believe I just had that chance to do that. It was really the greatest honour of my career.
“To do it here in front of this beautiful crowd in Brazil who stood out in the rain all day, it was a very, very special day and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone to make this happen. I would race that today if I could, it would be my pleasure. Anyhow, I did one or two more laps than I was supposed to,” summed up Hamilton.
Here’s onboard: https://www.formula1.com/en/video/onboard-ride-with-hamilton-as-he-demos-sennas-title-winning-mclaren.1814722797520127780
Here’s the run: https://www.formula1.com/en/video/hamilton-delights-the-interlagos-crowd-with-demo-run-in-sennas-title-winning-mclaren.1814713748228568756
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