Lewis Hamilton can hardly comprise his pleasure forward of the Brazilian Grand Prix, as he prepares to unveil a particular helmet in honor of Ayrton Senna. Nevertheless, his announcement has sparked consideration for a historic gaffe regarding Ferrari’s previous.
The seven-time world champion, who obtained honorary Brazilian citizenship in 2022, has at all times expressed deep affection for the nation of his idol. His bond with Brazil and the legendary Ayrton Senna will likely be celebrated this week when the British driver takes to the monitor carrying a particular helmet design.
He had carried out it earlier than with Mercedes, and now he’ll do it once more with Ferrari. For the Brazilian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton will sport a novel helmet paying tribute to Ayrton Senna — his first such homage as a Ferrari driver. Senna himself was rumored to be near becoming a member of Ferrari earlier than his tragic accident at Imola, which makes Lewis Hamilton’s gesture much more symbolic and emotional.
“It’s a wierd feeling, as a result of I bear in mind rising up watching Ayrton and, like everybody else, I at all times puzzled what it could have been like if Ayrton had pushed for Ferrari,” Lewis Hamilton instructed GQ Brasil. “And now, for the primary time, you’ll see a helmet with the Brazilian flag racing for São Paulo on a Ferrari.”
The gaffe: Hamilton forgets Barrichello and Massa
It’s unclear whether or not it was a translation or transcription error, or if the British driver was merely caught up within the emotion of the second. However claiming that that is “the primary time” a Ferrari driver will race in São Paulo with the Brazilian flag on their helmet isn’t fully correct.
Rubens Barrichello, who raced for the Maranello workforce between 2000 and 2005, had already carried the Brazilian flag on his helmet. In 2001, the flag was clearly seen on each side of his helmet design. The identical goes for Felipe Massa, who represented Ferrari from 2006 to 2013 and at all times wore a helmet that includes the colours of his homeland. In 2006, Felipe Massa even wore a particular racing swimsuit emblazoned with the Brazilian flag.
Whereas Lewis Hamilton’s tribute to Ayrton Senna is heartfelt and real, it inadvertently overlooks Ferrari’s personal Brazilian legacy — one which each Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa proudly represented throughout their time in purple.
Nov 6, 2025
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