At the GP in Imola

Vettel drives Ayrton Senna’s last McLaren

Formula 1 starts its European tour this weekend with the Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna in Imola. Thirty years after the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, the two F1 drivers who died in accidents will also be constantly remembered during the race weekend - also thanks to Sebastian Vettel. 

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel invited the current drivers to a track walk on Thursday at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. They pause for a minute's silence near the Ayrton Senna memorial in the Tamburello corner.

After the drivers' parade on Sunday, Vettel will also drive a McLaren MP4/8 around the track, which Senna once drove during his time at McLaren before switching to Williams. For the 36-year-old German, the activities will be held under the motto "Forever Senna". Vettel has also had T-shirts produced in memory of the three-time world champion from Brazil. The profits will be donated to charity, with half going to the Senna Foundation.

Senna died in an accident in Imola on May 1, 1994. He left the track in the Tamburello curve and crashed into the wall at more than 200 km/h in his Williams. The day before, Ratzenberger from Salzburg had been killed in an accident at the age of just 33.