Sebastian Vettel delivers stirring tribute to Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger in Imola

Ahead of the F1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel honored Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger

Before the lights went out in Imola for the Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, there was time for one last tribute to Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger. Throughout this week the F1 world has been honoring the two drivers, who tragically lost their lives at Imola 30 years ago in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

This final tribute was perhaps the most powerful, as Sebastian Vettel powered Senna’s 1993 McLaren MP4/8 around the historic circuit while wearing a tribute helmet honoring both drivers:

The four-time F1 Drivers’ Champion then put the legend’s McLaren through a lap at Imola, and in the closing stages Vettel held both a Brazilian and an Austrian flag aloft, controlling the MP4/8 with one hand as he held the flags with the other:

The gesture is a rather powerful one, given the events of 1994. After Ratzenberger’s crash during qualifying at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix Senna was visibly shaken and Sid Watkins, the head of F1’s medical team, tried to convince the three-time champion to walk away from the sport.

“Sid, there are certain things over which we have no control. I cannot quit, I have to go on,” replied the Brazilian driver.

The next day Senna climbed into his car for the 1994 Imola Grand Prix, but tragically lost his life in a collision with the barrier. Medical personnel, including Watkins, quickly responded to the accident, but the injuries Senna sustained in the impact were fatal.

An Austrian flag was found in his car, as Senna planned on honoring Ratzenberger after the race.

At the end of his lap, Vettel climbed out of the MP4/8 and held both flags up for all to see:

He then placed both flags on the MP4/8, and bowed before them:

“An incredible moment. Obviously a very dark moment in time 30 years ago when there was this horrible weekend. So to b e here 30 years on, to drive Ayrton’s car, remembering both Ayrton but also Roland, it’s certainly very emotional,” said Vettel to Lawrence Barretto following his lap.

This was not the only tribute that Vettel delivered this weekend. On Thursday the former champion led the grid in a run around the circuit, paying tribute to both Ratzenberger and Senna. That tribute concluded at the Senna tribute statue at the historic circuit:

Photo by James Sutton - Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images

You can watch the entire lap from Vettel here:

The power units will soon roar to life, and the racing will begin. But one more time the sport took a moment to pause and recall two legends, with a third living legend leading the tribute.