F1 Imola Grand Prix: Sebastian Vettel leads Senna Tribute with Entire Formula 1 Grid

This weekend marks the return of Formula 1 to Imola after last year's race was cancelled due to flooding. A surprise appearance by Sebastian Vettel, a former F1 driver and four-time world champion, added to the excitement. In a touching tribute to the two drivers who died tragically on this track thirty years ago—Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger—he gave each F1 driver a distinctive T-shirt as he honoured the circuit. The bee conservation campaign Vettel ran at Suzuka last year is just one example of his humane gestures, which have been praised both on and off the track. At the Formula One Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, Vettel showed his generosity once again by giving out personalised yellow T-shirts to every driver on the grid. The shirts bore their numbers, and it was a moving homage to the 3-time champion.

F1: Tribute to Senna

The majority of the drivers were seen wearing T-shirts with Senna designs, symbolising the gloomy anniversary of his terrible death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Despite the grey and rainy skies, Sebastian Vettel led a melancholy lap on the Imola track as he oversaw a photo session. At Tamburello, the notorious bend where Senna's life horrifically ended in 1994, the competitors gathered for a moving moment of remembering. 

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In this weekend's races, Vettel will be behind the wheel of Senna's last race-winning F1 car, the McLaren MP4/8. Even though it wasn't the most dominant car in Senna's legendary career, the Brazilian maestro nevertheless managed to pull off incredible feats behind the wheel. In 1993, Senna won races in Brazil, Donington, Monaco, Japan, and Australia despite only getting one pole position. In the end, this led to an admirable second-place finish in the drivers' championship, behind Alain Prost. 

Celebrating their legacy.

Sebastian Vettel organised a track run in memory of two racing legends, Aryton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger #F1 #Formula1 #ImolaGP pic.twitter.com/A7ixpM4xnq

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 16, 2024

Since he retired from Formula One in 2022, Vettel has shown not only the MP4/8 but also Nigel Mansell's classic 1992 Williams FW14B, demonstrating his renowned admiration of Formula One's illustrious heritage. 

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Pierre Gasly, one of the current grid members, will be racing this weekend while wearing a helmet designed after iconic driver Ayrton Senna. This kind act comes after Gasly had the chance to pilot Senna's first Formula One vehicle, the 1984 Toleman, a sobering reminder of the lasting impact of the Brazilian legend.