Vettel to drive Senna’s 1993 McLaren in F1 Imola tribute

Senna’s life has been extensively celebrated this week on the thirtieth anniversary of the three-time world champion’s deadly accident on the San Marino Grand Prix on 1 Could 1994.

The Imola circuit is subsequent up on the F1 calendar after the Miami Grand Prix and can inevitably be the scene of extra tributes to the late Brazilian.

4-time world champion Vettel, who owns Senna’s 1993 McLaren MP4/8, has introduced he’ll take the automobile out for a demo on race day in Imola as a tribute to one in every of his heroes.

“Ayrton Senna was not solely a driver who I valued extremely for being probably the greatest racing has ever seen, but additionally a person of nice compassion,” Vettel mentioned in an Instagram video.

“It’s been 30 years since his accident and I wish to pay tribute to Ayrton.

“I will likely be in Imola for the grand prix to drive his automobile, the McLaren MP4/8. I hope to see you on Sunday, Could 19.”

Vettel, who is thought for his nice curiosity within the historical past of F1, acquired the MP/8 in addition to Nigel Mansell’s 1992 Williams FW14B, which he has displayed on a number of events since his F1 retirement in 2022.

Picture by: JEP / Motorsport Images

The German, who can also be an environmentalist and advocate for biodiversity, ran his legacy F1 vehicles at Goodwood’s Pageant of Pace final yr, operating carbon-neutral biofuels below the Race and not using a Hint banner. He beforehand additionally demoed the Williams at Silverstone.

“I’m a passionate racer and it’s essential to me that we proceed to get pleasure from driving iconic racing vehicles at present and sooner or later, however that we achieve this in a accountable manner,” he mentioned concerning the programme.

The MP4/8 was McLaren’s first automobile for the reason that departure of Honda as an engine provider on the finish of 1992. It featured an underpowered Ford V8 buyer engine, however within the fingers of Senna nonetheless managed to compete with Alain Prost’s dominant Williams-Renault on a number of events.

Senna claimed 5 wins on his option to second place within the championship behind the Frenchman, with a legendary wet-weather victory at Donington’s European Grand Prix hailed as one in every of F1’s most iconic performances of all time.

Apart from an look on the 2023 Race of Champions in Sweden, Vettel hasn’t raced competitively since his F1 exit on the finish of 2022.

In March he examined Porsche’s Le Mans Hypercar at an endurance take a look at in Aragon, finishing over two grand prix distances in its Porsche 963 prototype.

The Porsche Penske workforce was left impressed by the 36-year-old’s performances, however it’s not but clear if Vettel will at some point race for the marque within the World Endurance Championship and its Le Mans 24 Hours centrepiece.