Lewis Hamilton is due to take part in tributes for Ayrton Senna at the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix as Formula 1 celebrates the legend 30 years on from the Brazilian’s death. Tragedy befell the pinnacle of motorsport over the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend as Roland Ratzenberger and Senna lost their lives at Imola. Rubens Barrichello even had a 95G crash in practice on the Friday as the Brazilian’s Jordan flew into the tyre barrier at 140mph.

Barrichello’s car ended up on its side before the marshals flipped the machine upright as he lay unconscious. Miraculously, bar a few light injuries including a broken news, he had also escaped a major injury. But Barrichello’s crash was a precursor for one of F1’s darkest races.

Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty ImagesLewis Hamilton to drive Ayrton Senna’s 1990 McLaren F1 car at the 2024 Brazilian GPQualifying at the 1994 San Marino GP saw Formula 1 lose Austrian rookie Ratzenberger after the front wing of his Simtek got stuck under his front wheels after failing at the quickest part of Imola at the Villeneuve kink. Ratzenberger hit an exposed concrete wall in a 500G impact. Senna was deeply affected by Ratzenberger’s death, so took the Austrian flag in his Williams to pay tribute if he won the San Marino GP of 1994.

But F1 lost one of its greatest drivers as Senna hit the wall at Tamburello at 131mph and the front-right tyre hit the Brazilian’s head. READ MORE: Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to familyThe 1994 San Marino GP continues to be one of the darkest weekends in Formula 1 history. But Senna’s legacy lives on especially in his hometown of Sao Paulo.

The 2024 Sao Paulo GP will also now celebrate the three-time driver’s champion as Formula 1 returns to Interlagos. Interlagos has organised a ‘Senna Forever’ event for the 2024 Sao Paulo GP where past and present F1 legends, including Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi and Hamilton are due to take part, according to BAND. Hamilton, who got honorary Brazilian citizenship in 2022, idolises Senna.

Fellow son of Sao Paulo, Fittipaldi, will help to launch the ‘Senna Forever’ event on Thursday when the McLaren MP4/5B, in which Senna won the 1990 drivers’ championship, will go on display on Avenida Faria Lima. Hamilton will then drive Senna’s 1990 McLaren this Saturday. Hamilton is set to take to Interlagos in Senna’s 1990 McLaren car on Saturday at 17:00 local time once all Formula 1 activities for the 2024 Sao Paulo GP have concluded.

Senna won six of the 16 Grand Prix, 10 pole positions and the title by seven points over Alain Prost in 1990. Lewis Hamilton ‘always’ has Ayrton Senna with him in spiritPhoto by Mark Thompson/Getty ImagesSenna’s legend in Formula 1 and especially in Sao Paulo lives on strongly as the Brazilian was a transformational force for his home town. His considerable charity work established Senna in the hearts of many as much as his immense driving skills, offering them a symbol of hope.

Many Brazilians felt Senna represented the best of their country and made them feel proud. Senna also remains idolised by many Formula 1 drivers as he excelled racing in the pinnacle of motorsport, yet he made it look easy at times with his exceptional skill behind the wheel. Hamilton has always shown his admiration for Senna throughout the seven-time F1 drivers’ champion’s career.

He even got emotional when receiving a replica helmet at the Canadian Grand Prix in 2017 after the Briton matched Senna’s 65 career pole positions in Formula 1. Hamilton also shared before the 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola: “Senna’s always in my heart. I’ve always followed him since I was a kid.

He’s always been my favourite driver. So, whenever I drive, I always have him in spirit with me. ”