Watch: Lewis Hamilton drives Ayrton Senna's legendary car before Brazilian GP

Seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton described Sunday's drive in Ayrton Senna's title-winning car around Interlagos, ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, as the greatest honor of his career.

In Short

• Lewis Hamilton drove Ayrton Senna's 1990 title-winning McLaren
• Hamilton described driving Senna's car as greatest honor
• The tribute was a deeply emotional moment for Hamilton

In an emotional prelude to the Brazilian Grand Prix, seven-time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton paid homage to his childhood hero, Ayrton Senna, by driving the late Brazilian legend's iconic McLaren MP4/5B around the Interlagos circuit on Sunday. The tribute, which left some fans visibly moved, allowed the 39-year-old Briton to fulfil what he described as the "greatest honor" of his illustrious career.

Hamilton, dressed in an all-white racing suit, knelt in front of Senna's 1990 championship-winning car in reverence before taking it out on track under a light rain. The moment was charged with emotion as Hamilton, now an honorary Brazilian citizen, took several laps while carrying the Brazilian flag - a gesture Senna famously performed after his own victories.

"It is very emotional, naturally," Hamilton said, draping the flag over his shoulders post-lap. "I was revisiting my childhood as I watched Ayrton racing here. I can't believe I am having this opportunity. It is the greatest honor of my career to do it in front of this amazing crowd in Brazil."

The tribute was a reminder of Senna's enduring legacy, especially poignant at Interlagos, where the beloved Brazilian won in 1991 and 1993. Olympic gymnast Rebeca Andrade waved the checkered flag for Hamilton's tribute run, mirroring the finish line celebrations of Senna's past victories.

Hamilton, who drove a different Senna car at Silverstone in 2009, expressed the depth of his admiration on social media, describing the tribute as a surreal and unforgettable experience. "I won my first championship here, had my best ever drive here, and now to be in this country as an honorary citizen driving my hero's car is almost too much to comprehend," Hamilton wrote. "It doesn't feel realâ€æ it's a massive honor."

The weekend hasn't been easy for Hamilton, whose Mercedes team struggled with car performance amid heavy rain, leaving him starting 14th on the grid. Yet, in his characteristic humor, he quipped, "I had the best drive of the whole weekend." Hamilton, currently sixth in the drivers' standings, will transfer to Ferrari next season, marking a new chapter in his career.

The tribute was felt deeply by fans, including Luciane D'Angelo, 45, who has cherished memories of watching F1 races with her father. "I cry because Ayrton's tragic death still leaves us with this massive void. He wasn't only one of the greatest F1 drivers in history but also a person that every Brazilian learned to admire," she shared through tears.

Hamilton's drive of Senna's McLaren follows a similar tribute earlier this year when four-time champion Sebastian Vettel drove Senna's 1993 car at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, commemorating 30 years since Senna's passing. Senna's legacy, now carried on by drivers like Hamilton and Vettel, remains etched into the soul of Formula One and continues to resonate with fans around the world.