- McLaren is marking the 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death with two new liveries.
- One will be used on MCL38 Formula 1 race cars competing at the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend.
- The other has been hand-painted onto a pre-production McLaren Senna, which is bound to draw attention.
Ducati isn’t the only company giving Ayrton Senna a colorful tribute as McLaren has done the same with a Senna supercar as well as MCL38 Formula 1 race cars. The latter will be competing at the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix this weekend.
The liveries are designed to mark 30 years since his death in 1994. The one for the MCL38 draws inspiration from Senna’s helmet and features a mix of yellow, green and blue. There is also plenty of black as well as exposed carbon fiber.
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The real star is the unique Senna Sempre livery that adorns the supercar wearing his name. It features “vibrant colors chosen to reflect Senna’s personality and Brazilian nationality, with further elements paying homage to his race performances at the Monaco Grand Prix.”
The livery borrows heavily from the Brazilian flag and features bright yellow, green and blue colors that have been brought together with a new “wash technique” developed by MSO. It “allows the paints to blend into each other without creating any additional colors, while also evoking speed and the movement of a waving flag.”
That isn’t the only special touch as the rear flanks have dot matrix artwork depicting Ayrton Senna on and off the track. These dots were applied by hand and the end result is truly impressive.
Elsewhere, there are ‘double S’ logos and groovy “Senna” lettering on the rear spoiler. The model also has green and white border lines inspired by those used on Senna’s helmet.
The colorful theme continues in the cabin with yellow Alcantara upholstery that is contrasted by green perforations. The model also has a white 12 o’clock marker on the steering wheel as well as black Alcantara door panels. The latter feature Ayrton Senna’s signature as well as his quote saying “I have no idols. I admire work, dedication and competence.”
This particular Senna was a pre-production model used for vehicle attribute validation and was retained by the company after testing and promotion wrapped up. As for Ayrton Senna himself, he needs no introduction as he raced for McLaren between 1988 and 1993, winning three Formula 1 World Championships. He also had six Monaco Grand Prix victories including five with McLaren.
