Hamilton: I never in a million years expected this

Lewis Hamilton has revealed his demonstration run of Ayrton Senna’s 1990 championship-winning McLaren was supposed to be a secret. 

The seven-time world champion will drive Senna’s MP4-5B on Saturday of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after the sprint race and grand prix qualifying as part of tributes to Senna, who was killed 30 years ago whilst leading the 1994 San Marino GP. 

It will be the second time Hamilton has driven a Senna McLaren F1 car after testing the iconic 1988 MP4-4 in 2010 as part of a TV segment on Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson – and be the first time he has driven a McLaren since leaving the team at the end of 2012. 

Looking ahead to the demonstration run, Hamilton described how the test was supposed to remain secret. 

“I never in a million of years thought I’d ever get the opportunity to drive Senna’s car here,” he told media including RacingNews365. 

“I had a helmet made, just his helmet made for me – but I don’t know if we are using that one. 

“But the initial hope was for it to be a surprise – I had a white suit and his helmet, and I would go out and drive the lap and it would look like it was him out there.

“But somehow it got out there, it is impossible to keep things quiet.”

Hamilton to drive Senna’s McLaren

Hamilton also revealed his feelings at driving the car with which Senna won his second world title – although it is not one he won at with Interlagos, his two victories coming in 1991 and 1993.

The MP4-5B is the car Senna infamously used in the 1990 Japanese GP when he crashed into Alain Prost at Suzuka’s first corner on purpose, although whether it is MP4-5B chassis #7 that was used is not clear.

“My manager told me about it, and I jumped at the opportunity. When I was at McLaren, I did get the chance to drive the MP4-4 around Silverstone, which was incredible,” he added.

“The thought of driving the car around here, if you look at the races he won here, and held the flag, it would definitely be quite an emotional experience, and I hope people are here to see it.”