Lewis Hamilton Shocks Fans By Picking His Favourite F1Car: It’s Not A Mercedes
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton surprised his fans by announcing that his favorite F1 car does not belong to Mercedes, despite having won many victories throughout his F1 career.
Hamilton, who won more than 100 races during his glittering F1 career, had the opportunity to drive some of the most dominant cars in history. Standing out among these is the 2020 Mercedes W11, which is widely regarded as the fastest car in F1 history due to its insane levels of downforce.
But when Hamilton was asked about his favorite car in F1, he chose one of the iconic McLaren cars: the MP4/4.
The MP4/4 won all but one race in a season when Ayrton Senna won the title over Alain Prost in 1988.
Hamilton had the opportunity to drive his idol’s championship car on BBC’s ‘Top Gear’ in 2009. “Probably my favorite was driving Ayrton Senna’s MP4/4,” Hamilton said.
“I think the cars from that period were much more aerodynamically inefficient. They used really big tires and mechanical grip back then, it was more like a go-kart.”
Ayrton Senna won the 1988 world championship, the first in a series of successes. The 39-year-old F1 legend has now revealed that the MP4/4 is his favorite car that he has ever had the chance to drive.
“Probably my favorite was driving Ayrton Senna’s MP4/4,” Hamilton told Mercedes’ YouTube channel.
This car is remembered as iconic not only for its efficiency on the track, but also for hosting a great championship showdown with Senna’s French teammate Alain Prost. Senna edged Prost by just three points and the pair won 15 of a possible 16 races that season, a percentage only surpassed by Red Bull in 2023.
Hamilton’s choice has sparked debate among fans about drivers’ preferences between classic and modern vehicles, and how nostalgia can influence those preferences.
This British pilot’s unusual choice highlights the rich history of F1. With this choice, Hamilton adds a new dimension to the narrative of his career and the respect for the legendary cars that shaped the history of F1.