McLaren will run a vibrant one-off, Ayrton Senna-inspired yellow, green and blue full wrap livery at this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.
The livery takes inspiration from Senna’s iconic helmet and is designed to celebrate the Brazilian’s “incredible racing legacy”.
Three-time world champion Senna is McLaren’s most successful driver, racing for the British operation between 1988 and 1993 – during which time, he secured 35 of his 41 Grand Prix wins, plus three drivers’ titles and four constructors’ championships.
McLaren chose Monaco as the Monte Carlo track has become synonymous with Senna, the Brazilian – who passed away 30 years ago – winning six times in the Principality, including five times in a row from 1989. The race will come a week after a weekend at Imola that saw Senna, and Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger’s, lives celebrated three decades on from their fatal accidents at the track.
In Monaco, the McLaren team will also wear Senna-inspired team kit for the weekend, with race drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri wearing bespoke overalls.
The livery is a collaboration with Senna Global and McLaren’s partner OKX.
McLaren Automotive have also unveiled a one-off version of the McLaren Senna road car, the livery hand-painted by McLaren Special Operations and including dot matrix portraits of Senna.
“The team is proud to recognise and celebrate the extraordinary life and racing legacy of Ayrton Senna through this McLaren livery,” said McLaren CEO Zak Brown.
“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 presence within the team, and now his legacy, so it’s an honour to race for him at his most successful circuit in his green, yellow and blue colours.
“With it being the 30th anniversary of his passing, the team are choosing to recognise and celebrate his life at one of his favourite and most successful places to race, Monaco. We look forward to racing in this vibrant and beautiful livery this weekend.”
Senna’s niece Bianca Senna of Senna Global added: “It’s an honour to recognise Ayrton through these liveries in collaboration with both McLaren Racing and McLaren Automotive.
“It’s a fantastic way to celebrate his life and legacy through his iconic colours on both cars. McLaren meant a lot to him, and together they achieved a lot of success, much of which he is still remembered for today by so many.
“It will be special to see it race the streets of Monaco, a circuit which gave him so much joy and many triumphs.”
This isn’t the first time McLaren have run a special livery in Monaco. In 2021, they brought the iconic blue and orange colours of then partner Gulf Oil back to F1, with Norris finishing on the podium in that race.
Last year, they ran a one-off ‘Triple Crown’ papaya, white and black livery in Monaco as part of their 60th anniversary celebrations.
This year’s Senna edition will break cover on track when first practice gets under way in Monaco on Friday.
For the King of Monaco. 👑 We're proud to race in his honour and in his colours at the #MonacoGP.
Pelo Rei de Monaco. 👑 Estamos orgulhosos de pilotar em sua homenagem e com suas cores no #MonacoGP#Senna30 #SennaSempre #OKX pic.twitter.com/dVCR5LyLWM
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) May 21, 2024
