In a heartfelt tribute marking the 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s incredible legacy, McLaren has unveiled a stunning series of liveries that honor the vibrant personality, racing achievements, and indomitable spirit of the legendary Formula 1 driver. These tributes are showcased on both the heritage McLaren Senna and the MCL38 Formula 1 cars, set to race in the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix.
Senna Sempre Livery: Celebrating an Icon
McLaren Automotive has created the Senna Sempre livery, a unique, hand-painted tribute applied to a pre-production McLaren Senna from McLaren’s own heritage collection. This bespoke livery not only showcases McLaren’s exceptional paint mastery and craftsmanship through McLaren Special Operations (MSO), but also honors Ayrton Senna's tenacious drive for perfection, his Brazilian heritage, and his monumental contributions to McLaren's racing history, particularly in Monaco where he claimed five Grand Prix victories.
The Senna Sempre livery has been meticulously designed in collaboration with the Ayrton Senna Institute, featuring bold paint colors and bespoke interior treatments that vividly reflect Senna’s dynamic personality and his three Formula 1 World Championship titles with McLaren.
A Tribute on the Track: MCL38 Formula 1 Cars
Parallel to the heritage car, McLaren Racing has unveiled a one-off livery for the MCL38 Formula 1 cars. Driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, these cars will compete in the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix adorned in vibrant yellow, green, and blue colors, inspired by Ayrton Senna’s iconic race helmet. This special livery replaces the standard colors, symbolizing a deep respect for Senna’s unmatched achievements and his lasting impact on the sport.
Honoring a Legacy
“Ayrton Senna was born to race, and his passion for performance and perfection lives on at McLaren,” said Michael Leiters, CEO of McLaren Automotive. “The McLaren Senna bears his name and embodies his spirit – it is the ultimate road-going McLaren for focused track performance, and this masterfully detailed inspiration captures Ayrton’s infectious energy.”
Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, echoed this sentiment, highlighting Senna's lasting impact on the team: “Senna remains revered and respected as Formula 1’s greatest icon, and McLaren’s most decorated driver. His impact on McLaren is enormous, not only through his racing record but also his presence within the team. It’s an honor to race for him at his most successful circuit in his green, yellow, and blue colors.”
Bianca Senna, representing Senna Brands, expressed pride in the collaboration: “It’s an honor to recognize Ayrton through these liveries. It’s a fantastic way to celebrate his life and legacy through his iconic colors on both cars. McLaren meant a lot to him, and together they achieved a lot of success. It will be special to see it race the streets of Monaco, a circuit which gave him so much joy and many triumphs.”
The Ultimate Road Car: McLaren Senna
Revealed in December 2017, the McLaren Senna is the most extreme road car McLaren has ever produced. Designed for ultimate track-oriented performance, the Senna exemplifies total commitment to uncompromised performance, embodying Ayrton Senna’s spirit of relentless pursuit of excellence.
The Senna Sempre livery transforms a pre-production McLaren Senna, part of McLaren’s heritage collection, into a mobile tribute to Ayrton Senna. This particular car was used for vehicle attribute validation and featured prominently in the original launch campaign and global media test drives. The livery features intricate visual elements, including the Senna ‘Double S’ logo and the Brazilian flag colors, applied using a wash technique developed by MSO.
Craftsmanship and Design
The bespoke livery incorporates bright yellow, green, and blue tones that evoke speed and movement. Green and white border lines inspired by Senna’s race helmet design add a distinctive touch. The side panels feature hand-applied representations of Ayrton Senna, while exposed carbon fiber panels and bespoke interior treatments, including yellow Alcantara upholstery, highlight McLaren’s commitment to quality and detail.
A Tribute to Triumphs
Senna’s six victories at the Monaco Grand Prix, including five consecutive wins with McLaren from 1989 to 1993, are immortalized in watermarks of his race numbers on the car. The MCL38 Formula 1 car livery echoes the Senna Sempre artwork, with the colors and design celebrating Senna’s legacy.
The unique McLaren Senna with the Senna Sempre livery will be displayed in Monaco throughout the extended Grand Prix weekend, serving as a powerful reminder of Ayrton Senna’s enduring legacy and his profound impact on the world of motorsport.
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