Some make it, some don’t. But every aspiring racing driver has started in karting. That includes, of course, the legendary Ayrton Senna – the three-time Formula One World Champion widely regarded as one of the best drivers ever to turn a wheel in anger. This right here is the last kart he ever drove. And if you place the right bid, it could be yours.

On March 19, 1994, Senna invited some friends to his farm in Tatui, Brazil, to take a few laps for fun around his on-site kart track. As documented on video and attested to by several of those who were there, this was the kart that Senna drove that day. Six weeks later he infamously died in a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix.

The kart was placed into storage and never driven again. It’s since been restored by the original chassis and engine manufacturers. And now it’s coming up for auction, consigned to RM Sotheby’s for its upcoming sale next month in London, with 10 percent of the proceeds going towards the Instituto Ayrton Senna and its educational programs across his native Brazil.

It’s not the first such piece of Senna memorobilia we’ve seen come up for auction recently. Bonhams recently sold one of his helmets, RM Sotheby’s his racing suit, and two of his cars – the Toleman-Hart TG184 and McLaren-Ford MP4/8A – also recently crossed the auction block.

We’re not sure exactly what’s sparked the sudden influx of auction items connected to the Senna legacy. Maybe it’s the emergence of the hypercar bearing his name, the recent 30th anniversary of his first world championship, or the impending 25th anniversary of his untimely passing from this world, far too soon. But if you’re a fan with the means and missed out on those previous opportunities, this next one could be it.

Lewis Hamilton knows how to handle pressure - having won four world championships - and he demonstrated that ability most recently by winning in Germany and Hungary. But the Mercedes star is also all too aware that both he and the team are having to dig deeper than ever to stay ahead of arch rival Sebastian Vettel…

Ferrari have made huge strides this year, and Vettel’s Prancing Horse is regarded as the best car on the grid - a fact Hamilton accepts. But nevertheless it is Hamilton who has the title lead during F1's summer break, with the Brit boasting a 24-point advantage over his German competitor.

The momentum has swung between the pair all season, and Hamilton says that his Mercedes team must continue to ‘over-deliver’ – something he believes they are already doing this season – if his pursuit of a fifth title triumph is to be successful.

“We are racing a team that is faster than us this year,” he said. “Last year we were quite balanced, as there were some weekends they were faster than us and some weekends we were faster than them.

“But this year it is swinging more in their direction. We are having to over-deliver on race weekends and pull out more on weekends where we are not quick enough. The pressure to extract every millimetre of every ounce is greater than ever if I want to be number one at the end.”

And Hamilton has suggested that mistakes could be key in deciding the title winner this year, with the former McLaren driver focusing on an error-free second half of the season.

“Ultimately last year we reached just as high in terms of pressure at some point - it is just that this year it is even closer than last year as you know, so the smallest mistakes are even more costly.

“Then there is more pressure. That is the same for any sport if you know the last shot or last serve is the most important point it is the most intense battle.”

Hamilton will have a chance to increase his advantage over Vettel when F1 returns to action at the Belgian Grand Prix on August 24-26.

McLaren is working on replacing Fernando Alonso with Carlos Sainz as Pierre Gasly has emerged as Daniel Ricciardo's likely successor at Red Bull, Motorsport.com understands.

Sainz drove for Red Bull's junior team Toro Rosso for three seasons and is currently on loan at Renault, but will lose that drive because Daniel Ricciardo is quitting Red Bull to join the French manufacturer for 2019.

Ricciardo's surprise decision gave Sainz a shot at Red Bull but current Toro Rosso driver Gasly quickly emerged as the favourite.

When Red Bull loaned Sainz out, it retained an option on him until the end of September but Sainz's camp has intimated he would only be recalled to the senior team, not Toro Rosso.

Sainz has been on McLaren's radar for several weeks and is understood to be set on a move to the Woking team now Red Bull is preparing to promote Gasly.

A McLaren spokesperson said "we never comment on driver matters" when contacted by Motorsport.com.

Sainz is a proven operator in F1's midfield who has good brand value because of his family name and is looked on favourably by McLaren's star driver Alonso.

With Alonso stepping away from F1 at the end of the year, Sainz provides a good insurance policy for McLaren as it debates what to do with the drivers already on its books.

It is unsure whether to keep Stoffel Vandoorne given the Belgian's struggles as Alonso's teammate and has appeared uncertain about giving reserve driver Lando Norris his grand prix debut.

Formula 2 title challenger Norris had admitted one possibility was a Friday-practice role ahead of a 2020 graduation before Alonso announced his intention to leave F1.

If McLaren does not pick Norris for next season he could either wait until 2020 or be loaned out to another team, with Toro Rosso previously interested but unwilling to take him on just a loan basis.

Vandoorne's chances of staying in F1 appear limited if he is dropped by McLaren.

He could try to take advantage of the Gasly and Sainz moves to force himself into Toro Rosso but that would require Red Bull taking the unusual step of picking up a driver rejected by one of its rivals.

Alternatively, Vandoorne could find refuge at Sauber, which is run by his old ART GP2 title-winning boss Fred Vasseur.

Vandoorne's manager Alessandro Alunni Bravi is involved in the ownership structure of Swiss the team.

However, Sauber has no shortage of potential drivers given its ties to Ferrari – which could facilitate any one of Charles Leclerc, Antonio Giovinazzi or Kimi Raikkonen taking one of the seats – and its rise in form making it attractive to other midfield drivers.

It remains to be seen whether Marcus Ericsson's backers, who have a stake in the team, will continue to fund his place in F1 or free up the second seat alongside a Ferrari candidate.

Red Bull Racing driver Daniel Ricciardo is headed to the Renault F1 team, but even his soon-to-be team principal says wins aren't coming at Renault anytime soon.

Ricciardo and Renault shocked the Formula 1 world recently by announcing that the 29-year-old is leaving Red Bull at the end of the year.

"His commitment to us proves our will to accelerate the catching-up process to the top teams," Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul told German media outlet Auto Motor und Sport. "It's also a recognition of the work we have done over the past two and a half years. Daniel's talent and charisma are a big bonus for us. We have to repay that trust by providing him with the best possible car."

However, Abiteboul acknowledges that Ricciardo may not be in a winning position until 2020 or 2021.

"With Ricciardo, the big objective is to fight for the title in 2021, but we hope that he can start winning races in 2020," he told France's Auto Hebdo. "But I have also realized that these 29-, 30-year-old drivers -- and it's the same thing with Nico (Hulkenberg) -- they not only want to drive but they aspire to something else. It's not the same with everyone, but I do believe it is with these two guys."

Abiteboul also said Ricciardo had "justified doubts" about Red Bull's Honda engines for 2019.

Two days after Fernando Alonso announced he won’t be racing in Formula 1 next year, McLaren have confirmed Carlos Sainz as the two-time world champion’s replacement…

It was revealed on Tuesday that Alonso will step away from F1 at the end of the season, and although he did hint that he may return to the team in the future, McLaren have been quick to secure a new driver for 2019.

And that driver is Sainz, the Spaniard who joins on a multi-year deal. Previously contracted to Red Bull, this year he has been on loan to Renault, who have signed up Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo to partner Nico Hulkenberg next year.

“I’m delighted to finally be able to confirm that I’ll be a McLaren driver from the 2019 season,” Sainz said. ” It’s something I’ve been looking at for a while and I’m very excited about this next chapter in my career.

“I’ve been a McLaren fan for as long as I can remember. It’s a great name in the sport with an incredible heritage, and the list of drivers that have raced for McLaren over the years are among the heroes of Formula 1.

“Fernando is of course one of them, so it’s particularly special that I’ll be taking his seat as part of the next generation of Spanish racing drivers behind the wheel of a McLaren.

“Finally, I’d like to thank everyone at McLaren for giving me this opportunity to fulfil a childhood dream. The team has a long-term plan for the future and I’m very much looking forward to playing a key role in its journey back to success.”

The 23-year-old, who made his F1 debut in 2015 with Toro Rosso, will be tasked with helping McLaren return to their heydays, with the team last winning a world title 10 years ago.

Zak Brown, McLaren Racing’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We’re incredibly excited to have Carlos join us as a McLaren driver. We’ve been assessing him for some time now and rate him very highly among the next generation of young talent emerging through the ranks in Formula 1.

“Carlos brings with him the perfect blend of youth and experience. Although he’s just 23, he’ll be starting his fifth season in the sport with us and will bring with him a huge amount of racing experience, both in Formula 1 and with our partner Renault.

“It’s no secret that Carlos is a huge admirer of Fernando’s, and it’s fitting that he will be stepping into his seat as a Spaniard with a legendary name in motorsport. We think he’ll be a great fit for McLaren and we’re really excited to have him join us from next season and beyond.”

McLaren will confirm their other 2019 race driver at a later date, leaving the future of Stoffel Vandoorne unclear for now.

Esteban Ocon believes a Mercedes Formula 1 drive is "just a matter of time" and says his future lies with the German manufacturer regardless of his 2019 team.

The Mercedes junior is halfway through his second year racing with its engine customer Force India, and was in the running for a drive with the works team for next season.

Mercedes has opted to retain Valtteri Bottas for one more year, with an option to extend that deal to 2020.

Ocon had been linked with a move to Renault in 2019, on loan from Mercedes, but Daniel Ricciardo's shock decision to leave Red Bull has closed that door.

Speaking to Motorsport.com in Hungary before Ricciardo's U-turn, Ocon said: "The bosses [at Mercedes] have plans for me that are 'not yet'.

"It's not the plan for now. I think they want me to have more experience before I jump in that car. I knew that already. I have targets I have to respect.

"At the moment they are happy with the job I'm doing. It's just a matter of time, I think."

Ocon said he had tried not to think about next season but was kept informed by Mercedes about its driver plans and was "not surprised" when Bottas was announced.

He said he had no concerns about position, and said Mercedes was "definitely" his longer-term plan regardless of what happens next season.

"My future will be sorted out soon," he said. "I'm not worried at all. I'm not in a position [with] the knife under my chin.

"The job we are doing with Force India this year is strong and everyone is happy with that.

"I'm not in a position where I have to perform at any cost, and take massive risks in the race – I don't feel like that."

Ocon has been a Mercedes protege since his GP3 title-winning season in 2015.

He moved into the DTM with the marque the following year, and was parachuted into the Manor team mid-season to partner Pascal Wehrlein in an all-Mercedes junior line-up.

Ocon then beat Wehrlein to a Force India seat for 2017 and remained with the Silverstone-based team for 2018.

"What I'm sure of is that Mercedes is doing a great job with my management since I joined them," said Ocon. "They always put me in the best sporting position for me. I don't have to be worried, it's all going to be OK.

"If I stay here [Force India] or go somewhere else, I don't know. But I will have a great position for sure next year."

With Renault no longer an option, it is understood that remaining with Force India or moving to McLaren on loan are the likeliest outcomes for Ocon.

If he commits to a third season with Force India he is expected to partner Lance Stroll, after the Canadian’s father Lawrence led the consortium that saved Force India from administration, forcing current teammate Sergio Perez to seek a drive elsewhere.

A move to McLaren, likely alongside Carlos Sainz, would be expected to be on similar loan terms to what Mercedes was prepared to make with Renault.