Travelling in Time: A Senna Tribute in Interlagos
In 2024, Ayrton Senna received multiple tributes in honour of the 30th year anniversary of his tragic death. The Netflix series “Senna”, about the driver’s life, is already the most-watched production on the non-English Netflix TV list. Mariana Becker, a Brazilian Formula 1 reporter, shares Senna’s impact on the sport: “I think Ayrton Senna transcends the idea of an idol. He combines a genius approach with something that is untouchable because he dies while doing what he was truly brilliant at. That’s a reason why the moments he created remain untouched.”
Ask any Brazilian fan, and the majority will probably agree that the most significant Senna tribute this year was Lewis Hamilton driving the McLaren MP4/5B around Interlagos during the Grand Prix weekend. Made even more fitting by the rainy weather, a nod to the “Rain Master.”
Hamilton As The Chosen One
Since it was announced that the McLaren MP4/5B was coming to Interlagos, the question mark was around who would be chosen to drive it. Alain Prost, Sebastian Vettel and Rubens Barrichello were some of the speculated names. Sir Lewis Hamilton later said that the plan was to keep it a surprise and only reveal he was the chosen one on the day, but the information was leaked right before the weekend.
“When I heard that the car was coming to the Brazil GP I got very excited, and when I saw that it would be Lewis (driving it), knowing his story and the appreciation he has for our champion, I got even happier,” says Guilherme Furlan, who’s worked as a marshal on the São Paulo GP for over ten years.
Lewis Hamilton has a close relationship with the Brazilian fans. He became a Brazilian honorary citizen in 2021, having always expressed his appreciation for Senna.
Luís Felipe Noronha, an engineer in Porsche Cup Brazil, was born after Senna passed away but grew up following the driver. For Noronha, Hamilton was the perfect choice for the tribute: “It was well deserved, I heard some people saying that they would prefer a Brazilian driver for the tribute. I think Hamilton deserved it. Besides, being one of the greatest drivers in motorsport history, he has always shown his passion for Brazil. So, I think it was very justified.”
The Tribute
While Hamilton was driving the McLaren MP4/5B, Senna’s victory theme was playing around the track. For Mariana that was special: “It was a memorable moment, but I think it really hit me when he picked up the Brazilian flag, it was amazing to see it.”
In 1991, after his first home win, Ayrton Senna stopped at the track and received a flag from a marshal’s hand to celebrate his historical win after the car got stuck in the sixth gear. Hamilton recreated this famous moment when he stopped by the side of the track and picked up the flag from Guilherme’s hands.
“I had the flag at home, and I almost didn’t bring it, but something made me put it in my backpack. In fact, during the first few laps, admiring the car and the roar of the V10, I even forgot I had it. I ran back and thought, what if he stops and asks for the flag, and sure enough, he stopped. I was with my friends Edinho, Jefferson, and Anderson. It was an overwhelming euphoria, adrenaline hit a thousand. When he took the flag, I was very emotional. I turned to my friends and we celebrated a lot. To Watch Hamilton repeat Senna’s gesture in a McLaren in the rain was incredibly nostalgic,” Guilherme Furlan told the Sports Gazette.
Luís got lucky, the Porsche Cup race was cancelled because of the rain, and he got to see the McLaren from a special spot: “The experience of seeing the tribute live was something unforgettable. I’m sure I’ll remember this moment for the rest of my life, and I’ll be telling everyone that I saw it right by the track. When I found out there was going to be a tribute, I didn’t know if I’d be able to see it so close, or even that I would see Hamilton picking up the flag right next to me.”
Mariana had a special role in the tribute, as the journalist chosen to interview Lewis Hamilton right on the track: “I felt very honoured with this choice. I think it happened because, I have known Lewis Hamilton for a while, I interviewed him a couple of times, so maybe it was easier to communicate. Also, I think I was a liaison between him, the fans, and Ayrton Senna – a Brazilian interviewing the British driver, who loves Brazil, driving Ayrton’s car.”
If you are wondering about the flag, Guilherme told us that he still hasn’t got it back, but he hopes to get a chance to meet Hamilton next year: “It’s fine, what mattered was being able to provide this memorable moment, where the joy of reliving such a great emotion was visible on the faces of the people, including mine. I hope that in 2025 I can meet Lewis, already driving for Ferrari, and we can have a chat and capture this moment.”
