Sports · Motorsport · 1 hr ago
Bruno Senna hopes Kimi Antonelli will drive Ayrton Senna’s Lotus next year
Bruno Senna hopes Kimi Antonelli can drive Ayrton Senna’s 1986 Lotus 98T next year.
The Italian Mercedes driver visited the Senna family estate in Brazil after winning his first Formula 1 title at the Mexican Grand Prix.
Antonelli was keen to explore the car, which his uncle raced in 1986, and Bruno said he barely wanted to get out.
Bruno said he could try to arrange a drive next year with Lotus or McLaren, but no plan has been confirmed.
The main question is whether Antonelli can drive the manual car; his father expressed doubt, while Antonelli said he could.
At the estate, Antonelli also drove on a go-kart track designed by Ayrton, where Bruno said he was fast and consistent.
The visit gave Bruno a glimpse of why Antonelli became world champion, but the proposed Lotus drive remains an idea for now.
Bruno Senna hopes to arrange for Kimi Antonelli to drive Ayrton Senna’s Lotus 98T next year.
Antonelli visited the Senna family estate in Brazil days after winning the 2026 Formula 1 championship.
Bruno said Antonelli was reluctant to get out of the 1986 car after sitting in it.
He said Antonelli’s height suited the car and that the Italian was keen to try driving its manual gearbox.
Antonelli also drove on a go-kart track designed by Ayrton Senna, where Bruno said he was fast and consistent.
- Who
- Bruno Senna hopes to arrange for Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli to drive the car.
- What
- Antonelli may drive Ayrton Senna’s Lotus 98T next year.
- When
- Next year. Antonelli visited the estate days after winning the 2026 championship.
- Where
- The Senna family estate in Brazil.
- Why
- Bruno said Antonelli seemed to love the car and was a good fit for it.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Antonelli clinched his maiden Formula 1 championship.
Antonelli visited the Senna family estate in Brazil and sat in the Lotus 98T.
Antonelli drove on Ayrton Senna’s go-kart track.
Bruno hopes to arrange for Antonelli to drive one of the cars.
- Car
- Lotus 98T, raced by Ayrton Senna in 1986
- Proposed driver
- Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes driver
- Proposed timing
- Next year
- Estate location
- Brazil
- Championship
- Antonelli’s maiden Formula 1 title in 2026
What people are saying
It was really, really fun to see him
We can try to organise for [him] to drive one of these cars because he fits really well in the car
He was amazing.