Sebastian Vettel Makes Subtle Nod to ‘Hungry Heidi’ as Tribute to Ayrton Senna Brings Back Championship Winning Memory

Respect is a big part of being a sportsman, and how a driver treats their team, car, and fans says a lot about them. When it comes to showing respect for F1, very few do it as well as Sebastian Vettel. This year we have a very important race at Imola, as this year marks the 30th anniversary since we lost the late and great Ayrton Senna on this very track. With it being a big anniversary, Vettel led the tribute to the legend in more than one way.

The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix started with the whole grid wearing the new Forever Senna tees that Vettel has up on his website, and along with that, the 4-time world champion will be driving the late Senna’s Mclaren MP4/8, which was his ride during his last season with the world. But that was not the end of it, as there was more that Vettel had to offer to pay his respects to Magic Senna. He did exactly what he did for his car, Hungry Heidi when he won the 2013 championship, and his way of paying respects humbled the world.

Sebastian Vettel bows down to the F1 legend

After driving the iconic car, Vettel did what he did in India upon winning his 2013 title and went on his hands and knees as a tribute to the legendary McLaren world champion. When he was done with the drive of one of the most important cars in F1 history, he bowed down to the car on the track where we lost the late legend.

This shows how much respect Vettel has for Ayrton Senna, calling him his hero. He successfully expressed how much Senna meant to everyone in F1, and still does. 1994 was a difficult year at Imola, as it was not only Senna who was lost to the track but Roland Ratzenberger too. Vettel shows his heartfelt respect for the two drivers and will keep their memory alive with this stellar tribute that shows exactly how much his driving inspired the current grid and F1 as a whole.

When it came to him giving this tribute for the first time, it was to his car that made him win the world championship, and with the deciding race being in India, he took from their culture to tribute not only his car but the track. With his head touching the floor of the Enzo de Dino Ferrari circuit, he is also showing the track the respect it needs as it decides the fate of the 20 drivers.

He fixed the Brazilian flag on the car before putting his head on the floor to show respect for the two drivers, and if you think this was all he did, you are mistaken. Vettel is a huge Senna fan, and he went the extra mile to show it at Imola. Quite Literally.

Sebastian Vettel extends the tribute with a running lap around the Imola circuit

On Friday, May 17th, Vettel got the whole grid together along with the F2 and F3 drivers to give a speech as a tribute to Senna and Ratzenberger. With a Senna teeshirt and a band to tribute the young driver, Senna got padlocks for everyone to be able to put on the fence where Senna lost control of his car. It was pouring, but that did not make anyone leave the speech, after which the drivers all walked to Variante Villeneuve, where Ratzenberger was taken from us.

The tribute was extended there under the Ratzenberger banner that had been put up, and there were words of appreciation and respect shared thereby by Vettel. All that said and done, half the people who were there for the tribute decided to join Seb Vet for the lap around the track on foot, where the German world champion carried the Brazil flag on his back to show his love for the country that gave birth to one of the most iconic drivers F1 has ever seen.

There are not enough words to compliment the drivers for their teachings and sacrifices, and as F1’s staff writer at the event said, “Senna and Ratzenberger may be gone, but they have certainly not been forgotten, and their legacies are shining brighter than ever.” 

That being said, what do you think of the Senna and Ratzenberger tribute led by Vettel? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.