Vettel 'screaming the names' of Senna and Ratzenberger during his victory laps at Imola

Sebastian Vettel was full of emotions on Sunday when he celebrated the memory of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger on the Imola circuit, aboard the 4 McLaren MP8/1993. A vibrant tribute that the German is proud to have returned.

A few minutes before the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, time stopped for a moment on the Imola circuit. Or rather, we were transported back three decades, thanks to Sebastian Vettel. The German, who retired from the circuits for two years, paid a poignant tribute to Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, who died just 30 years ago during the black weekend of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

The four-time world champion took the wheel of the McLaren MP4/8 from 1993, at the time driven by the Brazilian, for a few laps at Imola to the applause of the spectators who came in large numbers. The 36-year-old driver even split a few donuts at the end of his laps, before prostrating himself in front of the two flags placed on the car. A Sebastian Vettel visibly very moved when getting out of his mount.

Senna Semper ❤️🇧🇷#F1 #ImolaGP pic.twitter.com/ZUS4CSAiAq

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 19, 2024

Vettel made Senna's wish come true

“I was alone on the track and not racing, but the car is fantastic to drive, he told British television Channel 4. I love this car. I had the flags with me and as soon as I took them out people went crazy. It was a great moment. I was shouting their names into the headset! Taking out the Austrian flag – which is what Ayrton wanted to do because he had that flag in his car that Sunday [of his accident] – it was very, very special. It’s crazy how much joy and passion the name and legacy still brings people. It was the best thing to do. »

The German had already paid a nice tribute to Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger last Thursday, by inviting the entire paddock to celebrations and a lap of the circuit on foot, before going to the stele installed near the Tamburello bend .

“[Senna], he's a colleague that we never had the opportunity to meet, never had the opportunity to race against, obviously, but also never had the opportunity to meet in the post-F1 era. . So I am very happy to have experienced this great moment on Thursday, when we raced together on the track, including with the drivers of F2 and F3. But to be in the car today, to take the flag, it's incredible. Especially for those who weren't there because they weren't born or because they don't know the facts, it's such a powerful story. »

ALSO READ > VIDEO – Vettel’s vibrant tribute to Senna and Ratzenberger aboard the McLaren MP4/8